Soaring Valor – Daniel Wagner, WWII Veteran, Flies To New Orleans

PANAMA CITY, FL – World War II Veteran, Daniel Wagner, was honored on his 96th birthday with a trip to New Orleans, Louisiana, to visit the National WWII Museum. The trip was arranged and funded by the Soaring Valor program. This program was originally created by actor Gary Sinise in partnership with American Airlines and The National WWII Museum to honor World War II veterans by providing them with charter flights to the museum in New Orleans. The idea was inspired by Gary Sinise’s own trip to the museum with his Uncle Jack, making it a personal mission for the actor and his foundation.

The core mission was to recognize the duty, sacrifice, and service of WWII veterans through a hero’s sendoff and a chance to share their experiences and to document and preserve them for future generations. The program paired veterans with high school students, fostering intergeneration connections and preserving the stories of the “Greatest Generation.” The current trip was sponsored by Southwest Airlines.

Wagner’s granddaughter, Tammy Converse said, “Soaring Valor is such a blessing for our WWII veterans, truly giving them the chance to visit and participate in the museum built for them. Grandpa had a ball. Tomorrow, we will do his Oral History interview and spend another wonderful day exploring history. If you’ve ever been there, you know how amazing the Beyond All Boundaries movie is in person. Wow. I have to say The Victory Belles were by far his favorite part.”

Many strangers greeted him and wished him a Happy Birthday all through the museum and asked to take their picture with him. Wagner said, “Thank you, Mary and Chandler, for all you did for us, for the new hat and hand crochet scarf and gifts. I won’t ever forget this visit.” (Mary Clement is the Veteran and Military Engagement Coordinator at the National WWII Museum and Chandler Stark is the Gary Sinise Foundation Oral Historian at the National WWII Museum.)

Tammy said, “I have to thank Southwest Airlines for honoring him so wonderfully. They announced on our first flight from Panama City to Nashville, that it was his 96th birthday, and I’m not even kidding, I think every person on the plane wished him a happy birthday as they exited the plane. On our second leg from Nashville to New Orleans, I couldn’t push him with one hand and pull our suitcase with the other so the pilot who flew us actually walked us to go meet our driver and pushed my bag for me.”

Wonderful things happen every day in our community. Thank you to all veterans for your service.