Honor Flight Long Island Will Fly 46 Veterans To D.C., Salute Heroes

SOUTHAMPTON, NY — Once again, a beloved veterans' organization in Southampton is set to take heroes to Washington D.C., where they will be honored for their service and sacrifice.

On May 4, Honor Flight Long Island is slated to take 46 veterans to visit their military memorials, "meet with service branch representatives, commiserate with fellow veterans and exchange stories," the organization said.

Honor Flight’s mission is to honor fellow Long Islanders who served in the United States Armed Forces to preserve the nation's freedoms, by providing free, one-day trips so they can visit D.C. memorials.

The May 4 flight commemorates the nonprofit’s "over 2000 veterans flown" milestone.

In 2005, the first Honor Flight organization was inaugurated by co-founders Earl Morse and Jeff Miller. Since then, more than 130 Honor Flight "hubs" have been organized in various states.

All told, the hubs have flown more than 250,000 veterans to visit their military memorials in Washington, D.C. The late Chris Cosich of Amagansett started his own Honor Flight Long Island hub in 2007. With the May 4 flight, Honor Flight Long Island has escorted more than 2,000 Long Island veterans to D.C., HFLI said.

According to Bill Jones, HFLI president, the historic flight represents the nonprofit and all volunteer-run organization’s 2000-plus milestone.

"This special milestone flight includes 41 Vietnam War veterans who will receive long overdue recognition and thanks for their service," Jones said. "They’ll be accompanied by five Korean War veterans. What this flight really represents is a ‘big hug’ to all veterans from Honor Flight, and their families and supporters, who make such flights possible," Jones said.

Newly elected Southampton Town Supervisor Maria Moore will serve on the flight as a guardian, Jones said.

"We’re proud she’s on board. The town has supported HFLI since its beginning, getting us off the ground and ensuring our success. HFLI will be forever grateful for Southampton’s support," Jones added.

Thanks to HFLI, the 46 veterans will take a free, early-morning Southwest flight to Washington, D.C. Departing from Islip's MacArthur Airport at 6 a.m., veterans and their guardians will visit the World War II, Korean War and Vietnam War memorials, Arlington National Cemetery for a Changing of the Guard, plus take part in a Washington, D.C. bus tour. They’ll return to Islip that evening at 10:55 p.m., for a rousing welcome by the Nassau County Fire Fighters Pipe and Drum Band, plus heartfelt applause from hundreds of family, friends and supporters.

Next up is the Veterans Reunion, which takes place on Saturday, August 3, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., at the American Airpower Museum in Farmingdale. At that event, HFLI will present each May 4 veteran with personalized tribute journals full of photographs of their day in D.C.

In addition, each veteran will receive a special memento commemorating the history-making achievement.

"Our great patriotic reunions are always free and open to the public. So, join us as we honor our home-grown heroes," Jones said.

Veterans can get on the waiting list for future Honor Flights to Washington, D.C., by clicking hereand submitting an application. Veterans will fly for free, thanks to donations from across Long Island. The veterans will be accompanied by guardians, "able-bodied volunteers" who donate $400, tax-deductible, to offset travel costs, Jones said.

If you have questions, call Jamie Bowden at 631-702-2423 or email [email protected].