This year on Veteran’s Day – Nov. 11 – local veterans will be honored with the “Triad Honor Flight,” a very special plane trip that will take 100 veterans to Washington, DC, to visit memorials. 

It’s a way for them to be shown appreciation for their service, which they’ll see a lot of on Veteran’s Day this year.

For the first time in a decade, veterans from the area will be traveling from Piedmont Triad International Airport (PTIA) to Washington, DC, to visit the memorials that honor those who’ve served in the military.

The group will leave early on the morning of Thursday, Nov. 11 and return that night.  

While in the nation’s capital, the veterans of World War II, the Korean War, the Cold War and the war in Vietnam will be honored in ceremonies and they will get a chance to explore the memorials built in their honor.

The Honor Flight Network is a national network of independent groups that work together to honor the nation’s veterans with the all-expenses-paid trip – one that many of the veterans wouldn’t otherwise be able to take.  The trip lets them share memories with fellow veterans and lets them celebrate the lives of friends they lost in war.

Triad Honor Flight is the new local non-profit that’s bringing the event back.

According to information in the monthly newsletter put out by PTIA, previous Honor Flights out of the airport only included WWII veterans. However, this year, all veterans 65 years of age and up can participate.

According to PTIA officials, HAECO Americas – an international company that has a very big presence at the airport – is sponsoring a veteran for this year’s Honor Flight. Also, that company’s employees are writing letters to the veterans and taking part in the sendoff and welcome home festivities at PTIA on Veteran’s Day.

According to PTIA’s Executive Director Kevin Baker, this year’s Honor Flight “promises to be special” due to a large amount of involvement from a variety of groups and businesses in the community.

Anyone who wants to come out and take part in honoring the veterans is welcome to do so.  The event sponsors are asking for cards and letters from anyone who would like to write the veterans and thank them.  The letters will be handed out on the plane as it returns from Washington.

Letters and cards can be dropped off at the Airport Authority office in the PTIA terminal building or they can be mailed to:

Piedmont Triad International Airport

Attn: Veteran Letters

1000A Ted Johnson Pkwy, Greensboro, NC 27409

Those interested can find more information at www.TriadHonorFlight.org.