The Bong Veterans Center is hosting its Salute to Heroes fundraiser on Thursday at The Garden Event Center in Canal Park. There’ll be a lot to celebrate, including their continued support of veterans and the discovery of Richard Bong’s P38 aircraft, ‘Marge.’

The guests of honor include Justin Taymen, the founder of Pacific Wrecks, who lead the expedition to Papua New Guinea, and Alois Kuaso, the Head of Science of the National Museum and Art Gallery of Papua New Guinea.

The Bong Center and the National Museum of PNG want to partner together on an exhibit about the aircraft and crash site, bringing both countries together.

Kuaso told The Lift, “I read about this great hero of World War II. He’s somebody you read about, but now he’s actually here. In a place, where his memory has actually been honored. We see that there’s value in it.”

Taymen also recounted the moments of the discovery of Major Bong’s plane for The Lift audience, “I felt relieved knowing how much it would mean for his family, our friends at the Bong Center, and everyone here in the Duluth-Superior area.”