Honor Flight Takes To Skies Again Saturday
By Space Coast Daily // October 18, 2012
Group Pays Tribute To WWII Veterans
BREVARD COUNTY • MELBOURNE, FLORIDA – This weekend another group of genuine American World War II heroes from Brevard County will be recognized for their service to our nation by being flown to Washington, D.C. by Space Coast Honor Flight.
The Honor Flight network is a national organization that transports World War II veterans to visit their memorial in Washington, D.C. free of charge.
Conceived by Retired Air Force Capt. Earl Morse, what was initially just the charitable act of one man and one plane has now become a national network of 117 hubs in partnership with Southwest Airlines that has flown more than 81,000 World War II veterans.
Last month, Space Coast Honor Flight flew 25 World War II veterans to visit their memorial in Washington and while there, the veterans had the opportunity to visit with former Senators Robert and Elizabeth Dole.
The veterans also visited the Korean and Vietnam War Memorials memorials in Washington that day and were present for the Changing of the Guard ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery.
Saturday’s flight will be the final honor flight offered for Brevard County World War II veterans in 2012 and on this trip, the group will include two military couples.
Each flight consists of 25 veterans who are assisted on a one-on-one basis by a guardian helper.
On the day of the flight, they gather at the Wickham Park Senior Center at 4 a.m. and then travel to Orlando International Airport by chartered bus to begin their journey.
There they board a flight that takes them to Baltimore, followed by a short bus ride into Washington, D.C. with the emphasis of the trip being a visit to the World War II Memorial.
Space Coast Honor Flight is now accepting donations to fund seven flights scheduled for 2013. All trips for the veterans are funded by private donation.
The group is an all-volunteer 501 (c) (3) Federal Nonprofit Organization.
For more information about Space Coast Honor Flight visit www.spacecoasthonorflight.org, send an email to info@spacecoasthonorflight.org or call 1-888-750-2522.
