This Spring, Honor Flight Long Island will be bringing almost 50 veterans to the country’s capitol for free, as a way to commemorate their service and sacrifices to the military. The complimentary trip is part of the Southampton-based veteran’s organization’s annual initiative to grant a token of gratitude to local veterans. According to Honor Flight Long Island, their mission is to honor fellow Long Islanders who served in the United States Armed Forces by providing free, one-day trips so they can visit D.C. memorials. The complementary flights are thanks to donations from across Long Island. During the trip, the selected veterans will visit their military memorials and “meet with service branch representatives, commiserate with fellow veterans and exchange stories.”
Following their Southwest flight to D.C. departing from Islip’s MacArthur Airport, the veterans and guests will visit the World War II, Korean War, and Vietnam War memorials, Arlington National Cemetery for a Changing of the Guard, along with attending a bus tour of the capital. Then, they will return to Islip in the late evening, with a lively welcome by the Nassau County Fire Fighters Pipe and Drum Band, in addition to being welcomed back by family, friends, and other supporters.
After this event, which is scheduled to take place on May 4th, the nonprofit will reach its “over 2,000 veterans flown” milestone. “This special milestone flight includes 41 Vietnam War veterans who will receive long overdue recognition and thanks for their service,” Bill Jones, the president of HFLI, said. “They’ll be accompanied by five Korean War veterans. What this flight really represents is a ‘big hug’ to all veterans from Honor Flight, and their families and supporters, who make such flights possible.” According to Jones, newly elected Southhampton Town Supervisor, Maria Moore, will also serve on the flight as a guardian.
The first Honor Flight organization was inaugurated by co-founders Earl Morse and Jeff Miller in 2005, and since then, more than 130 Honor Flight “hubs’ have been facilitated in numerous states. Veterans who wish to be selected for the Honor Flight trip may get on the waiting list for future complementary flights to D.C. by going to the website and submitting an application. Those chosen will be accompanied by guardians or “able-bodied volunteers” who donate $400, tax-deductible, to supplement travel costs, Jones reported.
