American Airpower Museum will host an Honor Flight Long Island reunion

The Island Now
The nine World War II Veterans, their Guardians and Honor Flight Long Island officials at the Washington, D.C. World War II memorial on October 3, 2021

American Airpower Museum will host an Honor Flight Long Island Reunion on December 4th, to celebrate Nine World War II era Veterans who took an early-morning flight to Washington, D.C. on Oct. 3.

The veterans visited their WWII Memorial, along with Arlington National Cemetery for the “Changing of the Guard,” plus a special Wreath Laying Ceremony. They returned to Islip MacArthur Airport late that evening for a rousing welcome by the Long Island Bagpipe Band and their family members!

Veterans, their families, friends and the public are welcome to attend our Gala Honor Flight Reunion on Saturday, Dec. 4, 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., at the American Airpower Museum, Hangar 3, Republic Airport, 1230 New Highway in Farmingdale,

Please join with us to honor these Greatest Generation Heroes during our “Ceremony of Honors,” as they receive their Tribute Journals full of photos taken during this historic day in the U.S. capital. Admission is free for Veterans and families participating in the program. Adult admission $15, Seniors & Veterans $10, Children 5-12 $8. No tickets or preregistration is needed.

Our gallant Band of Brothers (and one Sister!) are Dominick Critelli, 100, Army, Floral Park; Vincent DePalo, 98, Army Air Corps, Bethpage; Constantine Efthimiades, 96, Army, Whitestone; Robert Harms, 95, Navy, Carle Place; Louis Peretz, 100, Army Air Corps, Commack; Eleanor Rizutto, 100, Army, Franklin Square; Stephen Samsel, 94, Navy, Fairfield, CT; Vincent Tolve, 98, Army Air Corps, Mastic Beach; Eugene Zanger, 93, Army, Massapequa.

Our patriotic Reunion features keynote speeches by Honor Flight President Bill Jones and American Airpower Museum President and Founder Jeff Clyman. Public officials are expected to attend and present Citations to the Veterans.

The Fort Salonga Community Band will play a patriotic medley, also known as the “Armed Forces Salute,” featuring five official melodies of the United States Armed Forces: Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force and Coast Guard. Free refreshments provided by Honor Flight.

Honor Flight is accepting applications for 2022 trips from Veterans of WWII, Korea and Vietnam. Veterans fly for free, thanks to donations from across Long Island. They are accompanied by Guardians, next-generation, able-bodied volunteers who donate $400 (tax deductible) to offset travel costs.

If there is no family member to act as a Guardian, Honor Flight has volunteers ready to step up for the privilege of escorting our heroes to their memorials. Interested in a 2022 Honor Flight? Please contact Jamie Bowden, (631) 702-2423 or JBowden@southamptontownny.gov or www.honorflightlongisland.org.

Contact: Robert F. Salant, Public Affairs for American Airpower Museum and Honor Flight Long Island, Post Office Box 422, Franklin Square, NY 11010, (516) 328-3959, rsalant123@outlook.com.

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