LAS VEGAS (FOX5) —Korean and Vietnam War veterans who traveled to Washington, D.C., in April as part of an Honor Flight Southern Nevada trip gathered this month for a reunion — and received handmade wooden step stools crafted from timber salvaged from a Grand Canyon wildfire.
Tina and John Horlacher, who served as guardians on the April trip, made one step stool for each veteran on the flight. Each stool was laser-engraved with the veteran’s name, military branch, the conflict they served in and the years they served.
MORE ON FOX5: Las Vegas valley Pearl Harbor survivor recalls attack as 8-year-old boy
The couple also made a step stool for Vietnam veteran Larry Lambert, who was scheduled to be on the April flight but passed away before the trip.
Wood sourced from Dragon Bravo Fire
The Horlachers, who operate a wood shop in Fredonia, Arizona, used timber salvaged from trees lost in last year’s Dragon Bravo Fire in the Grand Canyon, which started on July 4. John Horlacher says sawmill, Reidhead Forest Management, collected the wood, helped cut the pieces, and donated them to the couple at no charge — because of who would be receiving the finished stools. Horlacher says both he and the sawmill have permits for the salvaged wood.
Tina Horlacher used a computer to laser-engrave the tops of the stools. John assembled them.
The couple gave the step stools to the veterans, also at no cost.
‘A bunch of angels’
John and Tina Horlacher served as guardians on the April trip — a role in which one person stays with a single veteran for the entire journey. He told the group he is sometimes asked what the trip is all about.
“And I just basically look at them and I tell them, well, we got to run around with a bunch of angels for three days. A bunch of angels that have wings for three days that used to wear Army boots. And it’s a pretty good answer I think,” John said.
He also addressed the veterans directly about the gifts and said they should feel free to use them.
“If the step stool can make your life a little better, so be it. If it has a nick or a chip on it, maybe you had a nick or a chip in your life. This is our thank you to you and our thank you to the Honor Flight — what a cool, cool organization,” John said.
The couple also made step stools for Honor Flight volunteers, with a 250th anniversary design laser-engraved on the tops.
One-hour special available now
A one-hour special on the April Honor Flight trip to Washington, D.C., is available to stream now on the free FOX5 Vegas Plus streaming app. It will also air on FOX5 from 9–10 p.m. on July 4, 5 and 6.
Copyright 2026 KVVU. All rights reserved.
