On March 10, the Los Banos Honor Flight Committee, made up of over 40 volunteers (including members of the Los Banos High School FFA), prepared and served 1,917 drive-thru rigatoni meals to the local community.

Honor flight spokesman Jim Orr told The Express that 2,120 tickets were sold for the annual fund raising event, which contributes to the Fresno Area Honor Flight program, which sends Veterans from the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines and Coast Guard on a three day visit to Washington D.C.

The three day visit which will be held April 29 through May 1, and is open to all Veterans to apply for consideration based on the war in which they served (WWII, Korea, Vietnam) and their age and health. Priority will be given to WWII Veterans.

The members going to Washington will depart from the Fresno airport early Monday morning and return late Wednesday evening.

One interesting aspect of this drive-through dinner, which is not part of any other such dinner, is that the Honor Flight event features over 100 gifts which were given away to people at random as they drove their cars through the line.

Organizers of the event thank all the volunteers, donors, sponsors and those who purchased dinner tickets for making this worthy event a huge success.

Garland Bretz of Los Banos, left, was the 1,000th person served and won the new Weber barbecue donated by Nel Sorensen, owner of Sorensen’s Ace Hardware in Los Banos. Helping load the barbecue into the car are Paul Loeffler, center, and Jim Orr.
Los Banos High student volunteer, Giovanni Discua is one of many students who helped at the event. Gene Lieb/The Express
Noah Gann, age 7, right, spoons parmesan cheese onto rigatoni under the watchful direction of mom, Cassie Gann.
Honor Flight volunteer Don Baker, right, holds his grandson, Maverick Creighton, age 3.
Michael Gill