Sign in Subscribe

VetsRoll brings veterans home from the trip of a lifetime

Over 400 weary and happy veterans, Rosie the Riveters, assistants, medical team and bus drivers returned from the 2025 VetsRoll Trip of a Lifetime on Wednesday, May 21.

Jean Seegers

Jean Seegers

— 3 min read
VetsRoll brings veterans home from the trip of a lifetime
VetsRoll visitors look for the names of family, friends and fellow veterans while visiting the Vietnam Memorial Wall in Washington, DC. Another wall lists all the veterans who lost their lives while serving in the Korean War. More than 400,000 U.S. veterans died in World War II.

In the wee hours of the morning, Sunday, May 18, 2025, nearly 400 veterans, assistants, and medical teams waved goodbye to family and friends and boarded 10 Badger Buses heading for the trip of a lifetime.

The first stop was at the National USAF Museum in Dayton, Ohio, where the veterans and their assistants were honored at a welcoming dinner. After touring the museum and spending the night, they were off again the next morning, on their way to Washington, DC.

The veterans were honored at a dinner following their tour of the National Air force Museum in Dayton, Ohio

They visited numerous veterans memorials, including the World War II Memorial, the Vietnam War Memorial and the Korean War Memorial.

After two days of visiting numerous memorials, the travelers gathered for a farewell dinner. The final gathering wouldn't be complete without the traditional Mail Call. Each of the 210 veterans were called to pick up their mail from family members, friends, and students from area schools. "Mail Call is the highlight of the trip," Gayle Haab said. She said there was not a dry eye in the room as the veterans received thank you notes and pictures thanking them for their service.

Veteran Norm Alpers, (blue shirt), a former Hononegah Community High School history teacher and administrator, and Army Lieutenant Colonel during the Vietnam era traveled on one of the 10 Badger Buses making the war memorial journey to Dayton Ohio, and Washington DC. He is pictured with Ed Butler the VetsRoll Badger Bus leader and assistant on the last night before returning to Beloit.
WW II veterans Roy (98) and Helen (97) Putnam made the trip of a lifetime to Washington DC on May 18-21. Helen was a Rosie-the-Riveter in WW II, 1944-1945. Roy was a Navy soldier, 1944-1946. Two assistants are assigned to each veteran on the four day journey. (center) Pat Kocher. (Back row) Jenni Jensen, Donna Shoen, Gayle Haab and Kasey Visger. Haab was one of the assistants on the inaugural VetsRoll trip in 2016. Gayle has volunteered for every trip since then. She has given countless hours to fund-raising ventures, contacting donors and assisting veterans on the four day journey.

Back in Beloit, a thousand American flags waved along Milwaukee Road, welcoming the precious cargo in ten Badger Buses. They were home at last after the four day journey. A motorcycle escort accompanied the buses to Beloit and several cities on the way home. Hundreds of families and friends held up welcoming signs, cheered, and waved flags as the volunteers pulled into the parking lot at Central Christian Church on Wednesday evening, May 21, to welcome the weary travelers home.

The mission of the four day journey has always been to provide closure, gratitude and respect for the sacrifices made.

VetsRoll was founded by Mark and John Finnegan, in honor of their mother, Barbara, a World War II Rosie-the-Riveter and father, Cy, a World War II Navy veteran.

Read more