Community is invited to be part of send-off efforts which begin at 7 a.m. at Westchester County Airport
WALDEN, N.Y (May 18, 2017) — Hudson Valley Honor Flight’s “Mission 16” will take 69 area veterans to Washington, D.C. this Saturday, May 20.
The flight will depart Westchester County Airport in White Plains at 9:30 a.m. from the hangar at 73 Tower Rd. and will take veterans on this all-expense paid trip to visit the nation’s war memorials on the daylong trip. It is scheduled to return around 8:30 p.m. that same day.
On board will be 42 World War II veterans and 27 Korean War veterans. Each is accompanied by a volunteer personal “guardian” who is responsible for ensuring that the veteran’s trip is a memorable one. Guardians are responsible for covering the cost of their trip.
Hudson Valley Honor Flight (HVHF) is a nonprofit organization honoring American veterans for all their sacrifices by bringing them to Washington, D.C. to visit their respective war memorials at no cost to them. HVHF is also a local hub of the National Honor Flight Network, which has more than 100 independent non-profit “hubs” nationwide.
“We’re planning a memorable day for these great men and women who served our nation with revered distinction,” said Board Chairman Frank Kimler. “We’re thrilled to give them this gift of seeing the war memorials to honor their service. It’s going to be a great day for them. We invite people to come out and cheer them on as they get ready for this wonderful trip.”
Mission 16 marks the second of two flights this spring; the other took place in April out of Stewart International Airport in Newburgh, N.Y.
But as Mission 16 prepares for departure, Hudson Valley Honor Flight officials are busy looking for a new Westchester flight sponsor for 2018.
“Flight sponsorship ensures we’re able to take veterans on these trips,” said Executive Director Beth Vought. “None of these flights would happen without the generosity of a major flight sponsor. Without a sponsor, it’s possible that we could have no Westchester flights in 2018. We would be thrilled to show any potential sponsor how their support will make our planned Westchester flights a reality. We believe there’s an organization out there who wants to take the leadership role in honoring those who served a grateful nation.”
HVHF serves veterans from Orange, Ulster, Dutchess, Westchester, Rockland, Sullivan and Putnam counties in addition to Pike County, Pa., Bergen County, N.J. and Fairfield County, Conn. Veterans from other surrounding counties are also considered.
To learn more, including about Westchester flight sponsorship, call 845-391-0076 or visit: http://hvhonorflight.com.
ABOUT HUDSON VALLEY HONOR FLIGHT
Hudson Valley Honor Flight (HVHF) is a 501c3 nonprofit organization which “Honors American Veterans” for all their sacrifices. HVHF transports these heroes to Washington, D.C. to visit their memorials at no cost to them. It is the local hub of the National Honor Flight Network (which consists of more than 100 independent non-profit “hubs” across America). HVHF flies multiple times a year out of Stewart International Airport and Westchester County Airport. It serves veterans from the following counties: Orange (N.Y.), Ulster (N.Y.), Dutchess (N.Y.), Westchester (N.Y.), Rockland (N.Y.), Sullivan (N.Y.), Putnam (N.Y.), Pike (Pa.), Bergen (N.J.), and Fairfield (Conn.). Veterans from other surrounding counties are considered as well. Top priority is given to those of the Greatest Generation, that of World War II, and terminally ill veterans from other wars. HVHF plans to take ALL veterans from other wars on future flights. Applications are kept on file. For more information, visit http://hvhonorflight.com
