Honor Flight News:
HONOLULU — Nov. 11, in honor of Veterans Day, Honor Flight Network’s first flight from Honolulu to Washington, D.C. returned to Hawaii after bringing veterans to visit the nation’s capital.
Aboard the flight were 28 Hawaii veterans able to experience the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to visit monuments built in their honor alongside their comrades and reflect on those who made the ultimate sacrifice for their country.
The returning veterans were given a hero’s welcome complete with a military band, and dozens of supporters and volunteers cheering their arrival. Welcoming remarks were delivered by Honor Flight Network CEO Meredith Rosenbeck, Alaska Airlines CEO Ben Minicucci, Hawaii Gov. David Ige, and U.S. Rep. Ed Case. First Lady Dawn Amano-Ige also was in attendance. Grammy-nominated producer, singer-songwriter and Native Hawaiian recording artist, Kimié Miner sang the National Anthem for the event.
“I can only imagine the profound joy these Hawaii veterans experienced this week in our nation’s capital and upon their return to Hawaii on Veterans Day,” Rosenbeck said. “This is exactly what the Honor Flight program is designed to do – allow our nation’s veterans the opportunity to see the memorials built in their honor. We are so thankful for the incredible support from Alaska Airlines and look forward to delivering more Honor Flight experiences with them in the future.”
Since 2005, Honor Flight Network has provided over 250,000 veterans across the country the experience of visiting the nation’s war memorials. Veterans or families of veterans interested in applying for a trip can visit www.honorflight.org. More trips for Hawaii veterans are being planned for 2023 and beyond.
“Alaska Airlines is a proud supporter of all past and present military members,” Tim Thompson said, external affairs manager. “It is a privilege to be the launch partner for this historic flight and flying Hawaii veterans on a once-in-a-lifetime visit to our nation’s capital to view the memorials built in to honor their service and sacrifice. We look forward to future flights with the Honor Flight Network, the community, and other supporters to ensure other veterans in Hawaii can take part in this great program.”
Participation in an Honor Flight trip allows veterans to witness the memorials built in their honor together with their brethren while remembering those who made the greatest sacrifice for this country. As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, each year with the help of volunteers and generous partners, Honor Flight Network coordinates the travel of approximately 22,000 veterans annually from around the country. All honored veterans travel at no cost to them.
About Honor Flight Network
The Honor Flight Network was formed in 2005 with a mission of honoring the nation’s veterans by bringing them to Washington, D.C. to visit the memorials and monuments dedicated to their service and sacrifice. The Honor Flight Network is currently comprised of over 130 hubs throughout the country dedicated to carrying out the Honor Flight mission. In addition to World War II veterans, the organization currently honors those who served in the Korean War, Vietnam War, intermediary operations, and in special cases of terminal illness or injury, veterans from more recent service eras. Since 2005, the Honor Flight Network has taken over 250,000 veterans to Washington D.C. For more information, visit honorflight.org.