Rick Mantei’s Gesture of Support for Veteran Gary McCrackin
Rick Mantei paid a heartfelt visit to veteran Gary McCrackin, an Oregon native who served in the Army and endured a severe head injury after just 11 months of service. Living in a veterans home and subsisting on a meager income of under $1,000 monthly, Gary has faced a series of hardships including being electrocuted, […]
Rick Mantei Reunites With Former Crew Chief, Cecil Tanner
Rick Mantei recently paid visit to Cecil Tanner, a former crew chief that he served alongside during Operation Desert Storm. Cecil, who hails from Winnsboro and is currently residing in memory care at a local senior care center, has a remarkable background rooted in a family deeply connected to the Air Force. With eight brothers […]
Rick Mantei Honors Ex-Air Force Pilot With Fly-By Tribute At Fort Jackson National Cemetery
Rick Mantei recently paid a heartfelt tribute to the late ex-Air Force pilot, Matthew Marsh, with a poignant fly-by at the Fort Jackson National Cemetery. Matthew Marsh, born on October 26, 1976, at the Hahn Airbase in Germany, was not only a proud native of Sumter, SC, but also a dedicated member of a family […]
Rick Mantei Honors Naval Aviator’s Involvement By Giving Flights To Fiancée
We are honoring our servicemen and servicewomen and their families in a big way! Katherine Almeida’s fiancé is scheduled to start Naval flight training within the next 18 months. Katherine is faithfully standing by his side. We gave her an incentive flight on Saturday 8/13/22 at Owens Field in Columbia, SC to show our appreciation […]
Rick Mantei Shares Evening With Journalist Bob Woodward at Omni Hotel in Washington DC
On 7/15, Rick attended a dinner in Washington DC at the Omni Hotel that featured Washington Post reporter Bob Woodward as the guest speaker. Rick was able to spend some time talking with Bob and take a picture with him.
Rick Mantei’s Heartwarming Visit to Kathy Kibler
Rick Mantei recently made a heartwarming visit to Kathy Kibler, a hospice patient, despite her frail condition at just 63 years old. Kathy, with a dedicated husband and a 19-year-old son pursuing a career as a car mechanic, had endured years of hard work, having picked cotton and toiled in a cotton mill. During Rick’s […]
Rick Mantei Honored As SCDVA’s Veteran Of The Week
Lt. Col. Rick Mantei earned his degree in civil engineering from the United States Air Force Academy in 1976, where he learned the humbling and eternal lessons that freedom is not free, and a sacrificial give-and-take is required to sustain the liberties in our country. Lt. Col. Mantei continued his education at Central Michigan University, […]
General Tom Rew Celebrates 102nd Birthday
March 18th, 2024 marked a remarkable milestone for General Tom Rew as he turned 102, defying age with his vigor and spirit. Despite recently undergoing surgery for a broken hip, Tom was spotted at the gym, ready to engage in his favorite pastime: handball. Pictured alongside Tom is his son, General William Rew – the […]
Rick Mantei Honors Fathers in Hospice on Father’s Day
This past Father’s Day, Rick Mantei dedicated his time to visiting fathers in hospice care who are estranged from their children, bringing comfort and companionship to those in need. Among the individuals he visited was James Hearn, a 90-year-old WWII veteran. The visit was marked by heartfelt conversations and a poignant reflection on Mr. Hearn’s […]
Rick Mantei Extends Comfort To Parkinson’s Patient With Thoughtful Gifts
In a thoughtful visit, Rick Mantei spent time with Margaret Habersham, a Parkinson’s patient from Charleston. Margaret, who dedicated her career to working in a Walterboro factory and has been married twice with two children, received a heartfelt gesture from Rick. His gifts—a meaningful cash offering, a BG Bible, and a prayer bowl—were intended to […]