 |
|
|
About the Honor Flight Network |
|
|
In May of 2004, the World War II Memorial was finally completed and dedicated in Washington, D.C. The inaugural Honor Flight took place in May of 2005. Six small planes flew out of Springfield, Ohio, taking twelve World War II veterans on a visit to the memorial in Washington, DC. In August of 2005, an ever-expanding waiting list of veterans led our transition to commercial airline carriers with the goal of accommodating as many veterans as possible. Partnering with HonorAir in Hendersonville, North Carolina, we formed the "Honor Flight Network."
The Honor Flight Network program was conceived by Earl Morse, a physician assistant and Retired Air Force Captain. Earl wanted to honor the veterans he had taken care of. He decided that there had to be a way to get these heroes to D.C. to see their memorial. In December of 2004, Earl asked one of his World War II veteran patients if it would be all right if Earl personally flew him out to D.C., free of charge, to visit his memorial. Mr. Loy broke down and cried. He told Earl that at his age he would probably never get to see his memorial otherwise, and graciously accepted the offer.
Earl posed the same question to a second World War II veteran a week later. He too cried and enthusiastically accepted the trip. It didn’t take long for Earl to realize that there were many veterans who would have the same reaction.
The mission and ideals of the program began to spread across America. Other cities and states became aware of our efforts and we fostered working relationships with dedicated community leaders in several states. Since 2005 Honor Flight Network has transported over 50,000 veterans from across the United States to the World War II Memorial. The program presently has 96 hubs in 40 states. By the end of 2010, Honor Flight Network hopes to have a hub in all 50 states.
Due to the senior age of our heroes, and the prediction that we are losing approximately 1,000 of them daily, we are committed to do all within our power to make their dream a reality. Our current focus will remain on WWII Veterans who have never been to Washington DC to visit the WWII Memorial. Honor Flight Network has learned a lot over these last five years and one point that stands out is that our veteran heroes aren't asking for recognition. It is our position that they deserve it. Our program is just a small token of our appreciation for those that gave so much.
Honor Flight Twin Cities is sponsored by Minnesota Vietnam Veterans Charity, a 501(c)(3) Non-Profit Organization, in a contracted partnership with the National Honor Flight Network. Jana and Jerry Kyser of Roseville, MN are the directors of Honor Flight Twin Cities. As of July 2011 Honor Flight Twin Cities has take 500 WWII Men and Women Veterans to Wash DC.
Our Fall 2011, Spring 2012 are filled with Veterans' and Guardians. The Fall 2012 flight is almost filled. We will continue to take WWII Veterans to Wash DC untill we can not fill a Sun Country Charter flight with our Heroes. The youngest WWII Veteran is now 84.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
