On May 11, Honor Flight Long Island will take World War II and Korean War veterans on a free, early-morning flight to visit their memorials in Washington, D.C. Departing from Islip MacArthur Airport at 6:05 a.m., veterans and their guardians will go on a guided tour of the Arlington National Cemetery, as well as the WWII, Korean War, Air Force, Navy and other memorials, meeting officers from their military branches. They will return to Islip at 9:50 p.m., to an emotional welcome by hundreds of family members and friends.
Honor Flight Long Island is a local, nonprofit chapter of the national Honor Flight Network. HFLI organizes, hosts and pays for biannual flights to D.C. each spring and fall. 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 travel expenditures. 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 required fee.
After last year’s Sept. 22 Honor Flight to Washington, D.C., a reunion was held at the American Airpower Museum in Farmingdale on Dec. 8. HFLI President Bill Jones commended the 50 veterans who took the trip. “Your country said that it needed you and you said yes, I will go,” Jones said.
HFLI is now accepting applications for future flights from WWII, Korean War and Vietnam War veterans. Veterans from other military conflicts with a life-limiting illness are also encouraged to apply for future flights. Please contact Honor Flight and they will make all the required arrangements.
For more details on HFLI, to apply for spots on an upcoming flight, or make a contribution to become a veteran’s guardian, visit www.honorflightlongisland.org or call Virginia Bennett at 631-702-2423.
