On Wednesday, Sept. 27, a flight full of area veterans will take off from Piedmont Triad International Airport (PTIA) for a very special trip.
The group will travel to Washington, DC to visit the memorials honoring those who served and sacrificed for our country.
The flight will include veterans from World War II, the Korean War, the Cold War and the war in Vietnam. The original Honor Flights from PTIA – which took place from 2009 to 2011 – only included veterans who served in World War II. However, the new flights include all veterans 65 and older.
Twice a year, the Triad Honor Flight organization arranges the one-day trip.
Triad Honor Flight is a non-profit that helps those who served in the military and survived honor those who lost their lives.
Alison Huber, who organized this upcoming flight for Triad Honor Flight, said this year’s flight includes one soldier who will soon be a centenarian.
“We are so very excited to have another Triad Honor Flight leaving PTI with over 100 veterans being honored. We have two WWII veterans and our eldest is 99.
She added that having semi-annual flights allows the organization to honor more local veterans by giving them the opportunity to visit memorials in the nation’s capital.
PTIA Executive Director Kevin Baker called the event “a day of celebration” and added that it’s a great way to recognize the contributions of those who’ve given so much to the nation.
On September 27, the plane full of veterans will take off from PTIA at 8:50 a.m., and return at 8:15 p.m. Well-wishers and members of the media will give them a sendoff in the morning and welcome them back that night.
The veterans will spend the day of touring DC and visiting memorials.
Triad Honor Flight is a member of the Honor Flight Network, a national organization devoted to honoring veterans. The stated mission of the network is “To celebrate America’s veterans by inviting them to share in a day of honor at our nation’s memorials,” and the official goal envisioned by the non-profit is to have “A nation where all of America’s veterans experience the honor, gratitude, and community of support they deserve.”
Our vets will do it. Our politicians do not.
Alison Huber and all the volunteers who participate in this program are to be commended and deserve a lot of praise for all they do for our veterans. also, everyone who donates to the program as well as all the sponsors deserve a lot of credit. as a veteran I extend my sincere thanks to everyone who is involved in this program.