Villages Honor Flight’s second flight for 2019 will depart June 5 taking 40 area veterans to Washington, D.C. Most of the veterans served during Korea and Vietnam, although 11 served during the 1950s, one in World War II, one in WWII and Korea, and one during the Cuban Missile Crisis.
Fifteen served in the Army, 12 in the Navy, 11 in the Air Force, and two in the Marine Corps. They come from Altoona, Brooksville, Clermont, Eustis, Fruitland Park, Lady Lake, Leesburg, Ocala, Ocklawaha, Spring Hill, Summerfield, Tavares, The Villages and Webster.
While in Washington D.C., the veterans will visit Arlington National Cemetery and various war and service memorials. Villages Honor Flight serves veterans from the Central Florida counties of Citrus, Hernando, Lake, Marion and Sumter. Each veteran has a volunteer guardian to assist him/her. The trip is free for veterans, guardians and staff pay their own way. The organization has flown more than 1,200 veterans since its first flight in May 2012.
The flight begins with an early morning send-off at American Legion Post 347 on Rolling Acres Road. The day-long trip concludes with a welcome home celebration at the American Legion Post about 12:30 a.m. June 6, depending on arrival time at Orlando International Airport. The public is invited to participate in the welcome home celebration and is encouraged to bring a lawn chair and an American flag. Entertainment for the crowd begins at 11 p.m. featuring Ralph DiNome and his Flashback band, The Villages Cheerleaders and The Villages Twirlers.
There will be two more flights to Washington D.C. this year, Sept. 18 and Oct. 30, plus two flightless missions June 29 and Nov. 23. For further information, veteran and volunteer applications, go to www.villageshonorflight.org.
