Villages Honor Flight’s first flight of the year is scheduled to depart on Wednesday, April 17 with 40 veterans headed to Washington, D.C.
Most of the veterans who will be on the flight served during the Korean War. Eight served during World War II, one in the Vietnam War and three in both Korea and Vietnam. Twelve served in the Army, 13 in the Navy, 10 in the Air Force and five in the Marine Corps. They are from The Villages, Wildwood, Lady Lake, Summerfield, Fruitland Park, Leesburg, Alachua, Eustis, Lake Panasoffkee, Mount Dora and Tavares.
While in Washington, the veterans will visit Arlington National Cemetery and various war and service memorials. Villages Honor Flight serves veterans from the Central Florida counties of Sumter, Lake, Marion, Citrus and Hernando. Each veteran will travel with a volunteer guardian to assist him/her. The trip is free for veterans, while 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 the Lady Lake American Legion Post just off Rolling Acres Road. The day-long trip concludes with a Welcome Home celebration at the American Legion Post about 12:30 a.m. Thursday, 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 and Drum Corps.
There will be three more flights to Washington, D.C. this year – June 5, Sept. 18 and Oct. 30. Two flightless missions will take place on June 29 and Nov. 23.
For further information on veteran and volunteer applications, visit www.villageshonorflight.org.
