Luke Air Force Base takes Hometown Hero on the flight of a lifetime

PHOENIX (KSAZ) - The Hometown Hero Program at Luke Air Force Base allows the public to nominate outstanding citizens to receive a special flight.

The flight allows the base to showcase every day people doing amazing things in their communities, paralleling the amazing efforts put forth by military members of the base.

On Friday morning, John Greenway climbed on board a F16 Falcon Fighter to receive the flight of a lifetime.

"We're going to go up. We're going to do some maneuvers. I think a little dog fighting and it should be an exciting morning I think," said a pilot.

Greenway was chosen as a hometown hero because of his work to help military and first responders.

"Actually, a friend of mine called me, Chris, and told me that she had nominated me for this and I couldn't imagine really being chose. The lost of people that were there were all amazing, all of them," Greenway said.

He created two non-profits, Operation Hero Project and the Freewheel Foundation, which aid injured military and first responders.

To date, he has raised more than $4 million toward these causes. He has traveled coast to coast and spoke to countless injured heroes, military leadership and gold star parents.

"I honestly never imagined that I would end up right here today. And honestly, based on the list of people that were there, any one of those people should have been here today. The officer that was chosen, you read his bio? He's an amazing man," Greenway said.

Russell Jurn, a police officer for the city of Surprise, was initially chosen after he risked his own safety to save the life of a woman who climbed over the barrier of a bridge and was threatening to jump.

He was unable to make the flight and Greenway happily stepped in.