Welcome Our Heroes During Space Coast Honor Flight Nov. 8 at Melbourne Orlando International Airport

flight includes 14 Northrop Grumman employees serving as guardians

WATCH: In September, Space Coast Honor Flight marked a historic milestone with its first-ever trip departing directly from Melbourne Orlando International Airport (MLB) to Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport.

BREVARD COUNTY • MELBOURNE, FLORIDA — The Melbourne Orlando International Airport (MLB) will shine red, white, and blue on Saturday, November 8, as it welcomes home the final Space Coast Honor Flight of 2025 — a stirring homecoming that will fill the terminal with gratitude, pride, and community spirit.

Fifty U.S. veterans, fresh from a day of remembrance and reflection in Washington, D.C., will step off a chartered Allegiant flight around 9:34 p.m. and into a hero’s welcome.

Sponsored by Northrop Grumman, MLB’s largest tenant and a leader in aerospace and defense, the flight includes 14 Northrop Grumman employees serving as guardians, accompanying the veterans to the memorials built in their honor.

Don’t miss the opportunity to be among the Brevard County community members who will line the Jack L. Ryals Welcome Center at MLB for a “Walk of Honor” — an emotional procession through the terminal featuring live music, food and beer trucks, giveaways, and family-friendly activities.

The night will begin at 8:30 p.m. with the “Red, White & YOU” pre-flight celebration, featuring live music by the Greg & Brian Duo.

Free parking will be available for attendees.

This homecoming — taking place just days before Veterans Day — marks not only the closing of the 2025 flight season but also a fitting salute to the courage, sacrifice, and resilience of America’s service members.

A Year of Milestones for Space Coast Honor Flight

The November 8 event concludes a landmark year for Space Coast Honor Flight, which launched its first-ever direct flights from Melbourne to Washington, D.C., earlier in 2025. The move allowed the nonprofit to cut travel time for veterans and increase local participation in both departures and homecomings.

“These flights have always been about honoring our veterans with the dignity and gratitude they deserve,” said Rear Adm. James Hart (Ret.), CEO of Space Coast Honor Flight. “Now, with Melbourne as our home base, the community is truly part of every mission — from takeoff to the walk back through the terminal.”

Throughout the year, MLB hosted three major Honor Flights — all supported by the airport authority, which waived fees to ensure every dollar raised by SCHF directly benefited veterans.

The Journey of a Lifetime

Each Honor Flight is a one-day mission designed to honor those who served in World War II, Korea, Vietnam, and beyond. The veterans rise before dawn for a chartered flight to Washington, D.C., where they visit national memorials, observe the Changing of the Guard at Arlington National Cemetery, and share moments of reflection with fellow service members.

The 50 veterans represent decades of American service — from World War II MPs to Vietnam combat medics to Cold War communications specialists. For many, the trip is both a reunion with their past and a long-overdue expression of national gratitude.

As with earlier flights this year, guardians will play a critical role, assisting veterans with mobility, logistics, and companionship throughout the day. The partnership with Northrop Grumman underscores the company’s deep roots in the community and its commitment to supporting those who served.

Homecoming: The Walk of Honor

The emotion peaks upon return. Just after 10 p.m., veterans will make their way through a sea of flags, cheers, and applause. Families, students, scout troops, and residents from across Brevard County will gather shoulder to shoulder, turning the airport terminal into a corridor of appreciation.

Live music, festive lighting, and patriotic décor will set the tone, but the real highlight will be the faces of the veterans — many of whom will be greeted with tears, hugs, and handshakes from complete strangers.

For some, it’s the homecoming they never received decades ago.

“Every cheer, every flag waved — it’s a way for us to say, ‘Welcome home. You’re remembered,’” said one SCHF volunteer. “These men and women gave us their youth, their service, and their courage. Tonight, we give them our thanks.”

Honoring the Past, Inspiring the Future

The Space Coast Honor Flight has carried more than 2,000 veterans to Washington since its inception, and the organization plans to continue expanding its outreach in 2026. Each trip is made possible through donations, volunteer guardians, and the unwavering support of the community.

For the Melbourne-Orlando International Airport and the residents of Brevard County, Saturday night’s celebration will be more than an event — it’s a living expression of gratitude and unity.

As the veterans return from their journey of remembrance, the crowd’s cheers will echo through the terminal — a resounding reminder that freedom, service, and sacrifice never fade from memory.

Event Details

■ When: Saturday, November 8, 2025
■ 8:30 p.m. – “Red, White & YOU” Pre-Flight Party (music, food, giveaways)
■ 9:34 p.m. – Veteran Flight Arrival
■ 10:00 p.m. – Walk of Honor through the terminal
■ Where: Melbourne Orlando International Airport (MLB), Jack L. Ryals Welcome Center
■ Parking: Free for all attendees
■ Sponsor: Northrop Grumman

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