Honor Flight Long Island (HFLI), the iconic volunteer-run veterans’ organization, is proud to announce resumption of regularly scheduled bi-annual flights to Washington, D.C., after two years of pandemic related restrictions. HFLI’s scheduled flight on Saturday, April 29 will take 47 United States veterans to visit their military memorials, meet with service branch representatives, commiserate with fellow veterans and exchange stories. Honor Flight’s mission is to honor fellow Long Islanders who served in the United States Armed Forces to preserve our freedoms by providing free one-day trips so veterans can visit D.C.
“This special flight includes 38 Vietnam War veterans who will receive long overdue recognition and thanks for their service,” said Bill Jones, HFLI president, West Point 1972 graduate and U.S. Army veteran. “They’ll be accompanied on this flight by two World War II veterans and seven Korean War veterans. What this flight really represents is a ‘Big Hug’ to all our veterans from Honor Flight, their families and supporters, who make such flights possible.”
Thanks to HFLI, these 47 veterans will take a free, early-morning Southwest flight to Washington, D.C. Departing from Islip MacArthur Airport at 6:05 a.m., veterans and their guardians will visit the World War II, Korean War and Vietnam War Memorials, Arlington National Cemetery for a Changing of the Guard, the Air Force Memorial and the Iwo Jima Memorial. They return to Islip later that evening at 10:25 p.m. for a rousing welcome by the Nassau County Fire Fighters Pipe and Drum Band, plus thunderous applause from hundreds of family and supporters.
HFLI is accepting applications from veterans of World War II, the Korean War and Vietnam War. Long Island Veterans are encouraged to sign up by going to the website, www.honorflightlongisland.org. It’s important to submit an application, as that will insure placement on our list. Veterans fly for free, thanks to donations from across Long Island. They are accompanied by guardians, able-bodied volunteers who donate $400 (tax deductible) to offset their 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. Any questions call Jamie Bowden at (631) 702-2423 or email Jamie at JBowden@southamptontownny.gov.
As this patriotic event is open to the public, those wishing to cheer our veterans upon their return should arrive at Islip MacArthur a half hour before the return flight lands at 10:25 p.m. Contact Robert F. Salant, Public Affairs, (516) 328-3959, (718) 791-4758, rsalant123@outlook.com for more information.