California Kiwanis Hosts Poker Run for Honor Flight

Riders take off from the California High School to kick off the California Kiwanis/Honor Flight Poker Run held Saturday, June 16. Photo by John Inman.

By John Inman

Tuesday, June 19, 2012

Bikers from the mid-Missouri area came together at California High School to show their support of the veterans at the California Kiwanis/Honor Flight Poker Run held Saturday, June 16. California Kiwanis member Bill Pace said Mike Katschman brought the idea for the poker run to the group. The Kiwanis and Honor Flight decided to partner up with each investing half and using half of the raised funds for their various charitable activities. The half going to the Honor Flight will fund at least three veteran's trips to Washington D.C. The half going to the Kiwanis will go to local youth and to the worldwide project eradicating Maternal Neonatal Tetanus (MNT). For their first venture into raising money through a poker run, Pace said the event ran smoothly.

Photo by John Inman

David Garnett, left, and Sara Hagemeyer, right, perform the National Anthem on trumpet before the Kiwanis/Honor Flight Poker Run begins.

"Connie and Mike Katschman helped this poker run go smoothly," Pace said. "For the first year it turned out pretty good. Everything went very well."

Photo by John Inman

Members of Boy Scout Troop 120 Allan Burger, left, Life Scout, and Addison Jobe, Eagle Scout, raise the American and Missouri State flags before the Kiwanis/Honor Flight Poker Run begins Saturday, June 16.

California Democrat