Area veterans who have signed-up to participate in the upcoming Honor Flight to Washington, D-C, also have an opportunity to see a movie featuring real footage of an elite group of U-S soldiers sent on a dangerous mission in Afghanistan, free of charge. A local veteran, Sgt. Nathan Allen, was shot in the chest during the March 29, 2011 mission, while trying to help another wounded soldier. Allen, a 2006 Atlantic High School graduate, is retired from the Army and currently resides in Manhatten, Kansas.

Melanie Petty, with the Trevor Frederickson Memorial Fund, says they’ve purchased 200 tickets for the “Hornet’s Nest” movie. The block of tickets was purchased because there is a prerequisite of 500 tickets being pre-sold in order for the film to be shown in Atlantic. It had previously only been shown in select theatres during the month of May, and opens nationwide today (June 6th).

The Frederickson Fund wants to donate a ticket to each veteran taking part in the honor flight later this month. Honor Flight Vets interested in a free ticket to see the movie the week of June 12th through the 18th should contact Melanie Petty by no later than Tuesday, June 10th.

Petty says she has a list of those going on the flight, so she’ll simply check their names off as they call her, at 249-3696. If you get her voice-mail, please leave your information.