ExpressJet Provides Free Travel For US World War II Vets
Honor Flights finally give WWII veterans a chance to visit their memorial
Since the World War II Memorial was erected on Washington DC's national mall four years ago, few of the thousands flocking to the site daily are surviving servicemen.
Volunteer-staffed and donation-funded Honor Flights provide free travel and guardianship for World War II veterans to visit the monument that memorializes their service.
"In 10 years as an ExpressJet pilot, flying the Honor Flight was the most rewarding day of my career. As an air force veteran, I felt great pride being part of a day to honor those who gave so much," said ExpressJet's Honor Flight pilot Jeff Rupp.
ExpressJet Airlines' charter service will fly the Northwestern Ohio Honor Flight hub's second Honor Flight in late June, after flying 29 veterans from Toledo on April 30 for the inaugural flight.
Dee Pakulski, whose father was a WWII veteran, founded the Northwestern Ohio hub of this program after serving as an Honor Flight guardian for a terminally-ill World War II veteran through the Michigan hub of the program.
"Each day, we lose more of our greatest generation of Americans," Pakulski said. "Many of these brave Americans returned from service after victory unnoticed. Many of them hear words of thanks and appreciation for the first time when they visit the Memorial."
According to the honor flight website, each day, 1200 World War II veterans die. Through the program's TLC or "their last chance" initiative priority is given to terminally-ill veterans.
"Safety is our top priority," Pakulski said. "These veterans are in their '80s and '90s and require wheelchairs, oxygen, and they need special travel accommodations."
ExpressJet's chartered service provided flexibility, allowing the group to give the veterans an unforgettable day to experience the capitol of the nation they fought to defend.
Each Honor Flight hub pays for the veterans' travel through the group's fundraising and sponsorship efforts.
Since starting in 2005, the Honor Flight network has expanded to 30 states. A local core of volunteers raises funds and plans trips for area veterans out of each Honor Flight hub. Each veteran is paired with a volunteer guardian. Though trips for veterans are free, guardians pay for their own travel.
As awareness for the program has grown, many hubs have seen waiting lists of veterans grow into the hundreds.
"We go to bed every night knowing that as we are raising funds and planning for the next Honor Flight, some of the veterans may not be here tomorrow. We definitely want to provide as many trips to as many veterans as we can," continued Pukulski.
She advises anyone interested in helping to donate funds to their local hub, serve as a volunteer fundraiser or guardian, or set up a local Honor Flight hub in their area, to contact the national honor flight organization at www.honorflight.org.
Comments
I am requesting information about the Memorial Visits.
My Uncle Paul Laurant is a relatively healthy WWII Veteran.
How can we get his name on the list for a free visit?
He presently lives in Ponchatoula, La.
Thank You,
Carl Bardwell
This is a shot in the dark, but I'm wondering if you're the same Joan Rogers that I graduated HPHS in 1967. I last saw you when you attended my wedding at Immanuel Cong. in 1969. I'm hoping this is you and that you will contact me.
I'm a WW2 vet who will be going to Washington late t. or early Oct. I live in Pueblo,CO, would there be any way I could qualify for the honor flight program. Thabnk you.
Phil Boschen
I did not make WWII war, but did make it to the Korean war
I ran into a gentleman about one year ago and thanked him for his service after noticing his WWII hat. I tried to line him up with a flight, but in the time that passed he is now in a nursing home. He asked me if I could get him a c.d. of the trip if it was possible. I am now requesting if this is possible to purchase or recieve one.
Any help you can give me about this trip would greatly appreciated by myself an him.
My address is: 800 Vancouver St.---Middletown, OH--45044
Phone No.: 513-423-7926
Thank you.
Bob Ryan
My Father,Oscar Brundige, from Stillwater,NY. He went to Dc on the flight from Albany,NY, on April 17,2010.
He said that it was one of the best days of his life. He stated that everyone envolved made him feel like a hero. For a 90 year old vetern it was a day he will never forget. I will never forget his reaction to the trip. God Bless You for making this possible for him. Sincerely,
Susan Dodd
I would like information for the Honor Flight out of Milwaukee, WI.
My father served in the Air Corps during WWII and my son just graduated from Ft Benning,GA on 4/15/10. The pride that filled my father would only be completed by visiting the monument. Thank you.
I've been in the travel industry for 25 years and am proud to say that the WWII Freedom Honors Flight Program is one of the best ideas ever created. I have been so blessed to see 2 of my Uncles who proudly served in WWII, one in the Navy and one in the Marines, be able to fly to Washington DC and see the Memorial in their honor. Watching those boys climb off that aircraft after a FULL day of traveling, and seeing all their family and friends and the Marching Band waiting to greet them made even those who were in wheelchairs snap to attention, chest out, shoulders back, head high, and the look of pride that neither time nor health problems could never erase was seen on the face of every man and woman that stepped off that aircraft. In our area, Kwik Trip Inc is one of the biggest benefactors, and Sun Country Airlines helps provide the aircraft. Thank you so much to all who help provide this service. It is a fitting tribute to our true American Soldiers. Also, if you want the best experience you can imagine....take that service man or woman in your life to visit Pearl Harbor and the guided tour of Mighty Mo and Punchbowl Natl Memorial...I just did and it was the most moving tour I've ever experienced, especially the part that my Uncle narrated for me of the battles he fought and where they fought them.
Both of my parents were Marine Corps Sargents in WW II and they have expressed interest in visiting the WW II Memorial. My dad served time in the Pacific theater and my mother was asssigned to the women's Marine marching corp.
My mother has just regained her ability to move around after her hip replacement and would enjoy a trip to visit the various memorials.
How can they get on the list to travel to DC from Detroit, MI and visit the Memorial?
I am taking my dad to see the WW11 memorial in apr. 2010 he is 84 in good health .IS there a trolly or transportation to the memorials for veterans ,we will be staying at the State Plaza Hotel 2117 E Street NW. It would be greatly appriciate cheryl flavell
My father is a decorated WW II veteran and would like to go to Washington to see the War Memorial. He is not able to drive there. He lives in the Hartford, CT area and is almost 86 years of age. How can I find out about flights for him and maybe a few other family members out of either Hartford or Boston? I would love to be able to do this with him before the dead of winter is upon us....
Thank you
Dear mr Hall,
Thank you from the Netherlands for your efforts in freeing europe!!
God bless you and deepest respect.
Eric
I would like to have info on the free flight for vets to WW11 memorial in WashDC on Oct 2
Thank you
My father is 93 years old and a WWII veteran.
I would like to have him and his wife flown to see the new WWII Memorial.
How can I get information on this.
He lives in Indianapolis. He still drives and is very activy. He would not need special assistance other than getting to the memeorial in DC
My dad, Joseph Mitchell Lipchinsky is a World War II vet and living in Harbor Springs, MI. He is 91 and wants to know if there are any retirement homes near him. could you send me this information or a website that I can resesarch it for him. Thanks for all the good you are doing. Cheryl
I am a WW11 veteran, severing in the US Navy aboard the USS Hornet. I am very interested in the Honor Flight to Washington DC to visit the WW11 Memoral. Please send me any information you can. I live in Myrtle Beach South Carolina, thank you for your help and interest in the WW11 veterans.
I am a WW-II U.S.Navy Veteran and I would love to visit the WW-II memorial. I was a gunner on a 5"38 gun on a troop transport. My last wish is to see the WW-II memorial in DC. How can I get on the list to travel to DC to the WW II memorial.
Thank you
Gerald G Greaves
I would have loved seeing a plane full of members of our greatest generation coming to see the monument, knowing that they are honored and appreciated. My father was killed in WW11 when I was an infant and is buried beside my mother in Arlington Cemetery. I never cease to get a huge lump in my throat when I go there and see the thousands and thousands of simple graves of men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom. It is especially touching at Christmas when volunteers place wreaths on thousands of graves.
Do you know of an Honor Flight out of Northern California? If so, we at Jim Kennedy Post 1932 VFW, have a member, who was an Army nurse in Korea in the early 50's and has terminal cancer, that I should like very much to get signed up for a flight.
Raymond A. Edwards
Comander, Jim Kennedy Post 1932 VFW
I would like to know if there is an honor flight in CA for my dad to be able to go and visit the memorials--
My dad, Richard Klema, was a POW in WWII for 28 months in Germany.
I am a WW11 Vet.Is there a prride and honor Flight from California?
How can I get on the list to travel to DC to the WW II memorial.
I am a WW II vet- served in Europe theater-earned 3 battle stars and nearly ended up invading Japan.
It would be really nice to be among fellow WW II vets and see the nation's monument for the vets of WW II.
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