Twenty-three veterans of various eras took part in a flightless Villages Honor Flight event on Saturday.
The veterans, who served in World War II, the Korean War, the Vietnam War and other periods, represented the Army, Air Force, Navy and Marine Corps. They came from The Villages, Lady Lake, Oxford, Leesburg, Ocala, Eustis and Hernando.
The event kicked off at about 9 a.m. when the veterans – two of whom were 99 years old – arrived at American Legion Post 347. After a short send-off, they boarded buses and headed to Colony Cottage Recreation Center for the once-in-a-lifetime experience. They were escorted by Lady Lake Police, the American Legion Freedom Riders, Fruitland Park Police and the Sumter County Sheriff’s Office.
After unloading at the recreation center, the veterans were greeted by numerous well-wishers and the TSA Honor Guard from Orlando International Airport.
As with the flights to Washington, D.C., everyone was screened by TSA agents and then checked into their flight by Rick Freitas, of Southwest Airlines in Orlando.
Through the magic of video editing and technology, after “arriving” in Baltimore, Md., they were escorted to Arlington National Cemetery, where they witnessed the changing of the guard. The next stop was the Marine Corps War Memorial, followed by the United States Air Force Memorial and a catered lunch, which was donated by City Fire.
After lunch, the veterans enjoyed some time to take photographs, then continued their day with a visit to the World War II Memorial, the Korean War Memorial, the Lincoln Memorial and the Vietnam Veterans Memorial.
Each veteran who participated in the mission received a certificate of thanks from their attending presenter representing their branch of service. And each also received a Villages Honor Flight Challenge Coin from Marine Sgt. Kevin St. Amant, of Weirsdale, who was accompanied by his dog, Sarge.
The veterans then took a simulated trip back to the Baltimore airport, where they enjoyed mail call before boarding Southwest flight 1945 to Orlando International Airport.
They then returned to American Legion Post 347 amid a huge fanfare, complete with an escort by Lady Lake and Fruitland Park police officers, Sumter County sheriff’s deputies, more than 30 members of The Villages Nomads and 31 Corvettes from The Villages Corvette Club.
“The veterans were very excited about the day and definitely surprised,” said longtime Honor Flight volunteer Debbie Diroff, who served as a bus captain on the mission. “They enjoyed a resounding homecoming with a huge attendance of well-wishers. The room was filled to capacity.”
Villages Honor Flight flew its first mission on May 2012. The Flightless program was launched in September 2014 to give veterans who are unable to participate in a trip to Washington, D.C. the opportunity to enjoy the experience.
The Flightless program, through video technology and a little magic, recreates the entire experience of a normal mission except for the actual flight to Washington, D.C. and back. Each participating veteran had a dedicated guardian, a preflight meeting to get the mission participants together for an orientation and some socialization, a special flight shirt and a squad-oriented social event.
Villages Honor Flight serves veterans in Sumter, Lake, Marion, Citrus and Hernando counties. For more information, veteran, guardian and volunteer applications, go to www.villageshonorflight.org.
