Marine, family get flight over speedway

Marine, family get flight over speedway
By Tony Graf Sun-Times Media September 18, 2011
JOLIET — The blimp flew over the massive speedway and turned to face the heart of Will County, with creeks winding through amber and green farm fields.

The enjoyment of a racing weekend and the freedom of the open horizon were made possible by veterans’ service to America.

Master Sgt. Jim Starr of Shorewood, a Marine veteran who has served in Iraq and Afghanistan, received a free flight on the Goodyear Blimp during this racing weekend at Chicagoland Speedway in Joliet.

Starr and his family participated in the flight and received free tickets to the weekend races, in a joint effort by SupportOurTroops.org and Goodyear.

Jim thanked these two organizations and NASCAR for rolling out the red carpet for his family.

The blimp descended on Joliet Regional Airport on Saturday afternoon. Jim, his wife, Jessica, and their two sons, Easton, 5, and Keagan, 3, boarded for an hourlong ride that would take them over Joliet and swing around the speedway site before Saturday’s race.

“The boys have never even been up in an airplane. This will be their first time flying,” Jim said.
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