I learned recently about a wonderful organization called the
Honor Flight Network. The purpose of the
organization is to honor US Military veterans with an all-expense paid flight
from their home states to tour the veterans’ memorials in Washington DC. The program is open to anyone who has
served in the military, but priority is given to WWII veterans and those from
other wars with terminal illnesses. The flights operate on chartered commercial jets and are organized to accomodate veterans in wheelchairs and those who may require medical or other assistance.
My friend, Sid Felix, is among those veterans being honored
this week on the Honor Flight from Arizona.
As I read more about the organization and its many hubs across the US, I
can’t think of a better candidate for this trip. In addition to serving his country in WWII, Sid
is a stellar human being in his civilian life and I am very glad this
opportunity was made available to him.
The Honor Flight Organization receives no government funding
– it operates through donations from individuals and businesses, and thru the
work of volunteers. It is a 501C(3)
non-profit organization, and again, there is NO charge to the veterans. There are excellent websites that detail the
organization, how to participate, and how to support the programs. There are a couple of blogs that describe the
trip from the perspective of the “Guardians” – the volunteers assigned to each
veteran to assist in whatever capacity is needed.
I encourage everyone to take a look at these websites and
get involved.
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