Honor Flight Long Island will hold a reunion Nov. 23 at the American Airpower Museum, to celebrate our WWII and Korean War Heroes who took a free flight to Washington, D.C. on Sept. 21 for a one-day guided tour of their military memorials.
They returned that evening at Islip MacArthur Airport to a raucous welcome by Nassau County Firefighter’s Pipes & Drums Band and to thunderous applause from hundreds of family and friends!
Honor Flight Long Island is our local, nonprofit chapter of the national Honor Flight Network. HFLI organizes, hosts and pays for the flights to Washington, D.C. each spring and fall. As part of the day’s events, Veterans and their Guardians fly to Baltimore-Washington International Airport, where a motorcoach takes them to D.C. for the guided tour of WWII, Korean War and other military memorials.
Each trip includes 50 veterans who go for free, thanks to donations from across Long Island. They are accompanied by 50 Guardians, next-generation, able-bodied volunteers who donate $400 (tax deductible) to offset the day’s costs.
If there is no family member to act as a Guardian, HFLI has a roster of volunteers ready to step up for the privilege and donate the suggested fee. HFLI is now accepting applications for future flights from WWII, Korean War and Vietnam War Veterans. To apply for spots on 2020 flights or make a donation and become a Guardian, please visit www.honorflightlongisland.org.
All Veterans and their families, MEDIA and the public are welcome at our Gala Honor Flight Reunion on Saturday, Nov. 23, 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., at the American Airpower Museum, Hangar 3, 1230 New Highway, Farmingdale, NY 11735, (631) 293-6398 or info@americanairpowermuseum.org. Applaud our HFLI Veterans during the Ceremony of Honors, as they receive their Tribute Journals full of photographs taken during their memorable day in the nation’s capital. For more information, call Virginia Bennett, HFLI Secretary, at (631) 702-2423 or vbennett@southamptontownny.gov.
Submitted by Robert F. Salant, public affairs, Honor Flight Long Island
