Honor Flight Long Island will hold a reunion on Aug. 10 at the American Airpower Museum, to celebrate local World War II and Korean War veterans who took a free, early-morning flight on May 11 for a one-day tour of their Washington, D.C. military memorials. They also saw the Tomb of The Unknown Soldier and were greeted by officers from their respective branches. Our heroes landed late that evening at Long Island MacArthur Airport to a raucous welcome by the Long Island Bagpipe and Drum Band and to thunderous applause from hundreds of family and friends.
The veterans’ tour in D.C. was sponsored by Honor Flight Long Island, a local, non-profit chapter of the national Honor Flight Network. HFLI organizes, hosts and pays for the biannual flights each spring and fall. As part of the day’s events, veterans and their guardians (volunteers who make the trips possible) fly to Baltimore-Washington International Airport, where a motor coach takes them to D.C. and the WWII, Korean and Vietnam memorials, Arlington National Cemetery, Air Force, Navy and other memorials.
Each Honor Flight trip transports 50 veterans for free, thanks to donations from across Long Island. They are accompanied by 50 guardians; next generation, able-bodied volunteers who donate $400 to offset costs. If there is no family member to act as a guardian, HFLI has a list of volunteers ready to step up for the privilege and donate the required fee. HFLI is now accepting applications for future flights from WWII, Korean and Vietnam War veterans. Veterans from other theatres of conflict with life-limiting illnesses are encouraged to apply for future flights.
HFLI’s Gala Honor Flight Reunion will be held on Saturday, August 10 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., at the American Airpower Museum located at 1230 New Hwy., Farmingdale. Help applaud veterans during the Ceremony of Honors, as each is presented with their own tribute journal full of photographs taken during the May 11 D.C. tour. In addition, an official U.S. Military Band will play the iconic musical themes from each branch of service. The public, family and friends are invited to come early to can marvel at the museum’s fantastic exhibitions of military aircraft from WWII and beyond.
To apply for spots on upcoming flights or become a guardian, go to www.honorflightlongisland.org or contact Virginia Bennett at 631-702-2423 or [email protected].
