By Taylor J. Hale
Staff Writer

STEVENS POINT – A Point hemp boutique recently donated to the Never Forgotten Honor Flight program to aid area veterans. Green Thumb Alternatives gave 10 percent of their Memorial Day weekend sales to the organization.

Shop owners Derek Ertel and Jefferey Watts opened the shop last April and wanted to find a way to give back to the community.

“We chose the Never Forgotten Honor Flight because they put a majority of their funds towards the veterans, and they serve veterans in the central and northern Wisconsin areas,” Ertel said. “We wanted to help a local group. We live in Wisconsin, our [hemp] flower comes from Wisconsin, and we really want to help those around us, so the more local, the better.”

The group donated roughly $100 to the organization. The sum may be modest, but Ertel noted that it is a considerable amount considering the age of the new shop.

“It may not be much, but it really is a lot for a small business just starting out,” Ertel explained. “I would love to do more things like this and other variations in the future, and will be looking for other organizations doing great things for their community and those they serve.”

The Never Forgotten Honor Flight program started in 2009. The Wausau-based organization flies veterans to Washington D.C. to view national war memorials.

“The Never Forgotten Honor Flight Organization, uses 99 to 100 percent of their donations to fly veterans who served during World War II, the Korean War or the Vietnam era war to Washington D.C. to visit the memorials built in their honor and in honor of their fallen comrades, which is what the holiday is all about,” Ertel said about Memorial Day.

The Honor Flight has transported over 3,360 veterans to D.C. since its inception.

Ertel and Watts are excited to continue to give back to the community they call home. “I would like to continue giving back to other local organizations; because I live here, and I want to see the community I live in thrive.”