A Berrien County veteran checked off an item on his bucket list Tuesday with a flight experience.
90-year-old Dick Swerm of Buchanan took his grandson along with him for an hour-long instructed ride on a small aircraft at Andrews University Airpark. Friend and Andrews University Trustee Dana Wales learned of Swem’s desire to fly just a few weeks prior to the flight, and made his dreams come true after few calls.
“I have this strong emotional response to people that have served our country, and so to have a guy 90 years old express that want and then at this stage in his life to help make it happen and to do it with his grandson was just a phenomenal experience for me,” Wales said.
Swem, a veteran, was drafted into the Army near the end of the Korean War and trained as a combat medic. While he attended Western Michigan University, he learned how to fly as a student pilot but never finished. The last time Swem flew a plane was in 1987, and on Tuesday he was able to fly over Southwest Michigan.
Upon arrival back at the airport, Swem was greeted by community members, including the Berrien Springs-Oronko Fire Department with a tribute, creating an arch for the aircraft to go under after the landing.
“That was wonderful,” Wales said. “We had a nice crowd. Dick had no idea anyone was going to be there other other than the pilot, his grandson, and me. It’s a wonderful, wonderful experience.”
