The Iowa State Fair Blue-Ribbon Foundation and Cookies Food Products have named Sioux Center resident Elsie Van Beek as an Iowan of the Day for the 2023 Iowa State Fair.
Van Beek had a goal of raising $50,000 to sponsor a Midwest Honor Flight for veterans when she was 13. The goal was set after her brother, Aaron Van Beek, President of Midwest Honor Flight, told her she was too young to go, but could go if she sponsored a flight. Elsie raised the money through baking and selling cupcakes, and in February 2023, she reached her first goal of $50,000 to get naming rights of the flight – Elsie Honors Mission 15. She then increased her goal to $85,000 to not only get naming rights of the flight but sponsor all 83 Veterans that went on her sponsored flight. She reached the milestone the day before her flight took off.
Her flight took off from Sioux Falls on May 31 of this year, known as the Elsie Honors Mission 15. Elsie went on the flight and spent the entire day meeting all the Veterans on her flight. Veterans had the opportunity to see Arlington National Cemetery to witness the Changing of the Guards along with time at each of the memorials: WWII, Korea, Vietnam, Lincoln, Navy, Air Force, and Iwo Jima (Marine Corps).
After the flight, Elsie realized how important the day is for Veterans and decided to tie in her Eagle Scout project with supporting more Veterans traveling on future flights, although details of her project are still in the planning phase.
Elsie’s day of recognition will be on Saturday, August 19 at the 2023 Iowa State Fair. She will be recognized with a presentation on the Anne & Bill Riley stage at 2:30 pm. Along with accommodation at the Des Moines Marriott Downtown, she will receive a gift bag, grandstand tickets and use of the Iowan of the Day golf cart.
