WAUSAU — The Never Forgotten Honor Flight organization in Wausau will fly one World War II and 100 Vietnam War era veterans from central and northern Wisconsin to Washington, D.C., on Monday, May 21, marking the organization’s 32nd flight since April 2010.
After Monday’s trip, the Never Forgotten Honor Flight will have taken 2,936 veterans to Washington, D.C., during the past eight years, according to a Never Forgotten Honor Flight news release.
The veterans and fifty guardians on the May 21 trip will see the memorials that honor the veterans’ service.
This one-day round trip departs Central Wisconsin Airport at 6:30 a.m. and is scheduled to return at about 10 p.m. The public is invited to CWA to welcome the veterans home Monday night. Honor Flight officials recommend arriving no later than 8:30 p.m.
Free parking for those welcoming the veterans home will be provided. Never Forgotten Honor Flight, NFHF, veteran alumni are asked to wear their NFHF-issued clothing (hat, shirt or windbreaker). They will be seated in a special NFHF veteran alumni area for the welcome home ceremony. Alumni are welcome to bring a camp/portable chair.
Any veterans from World War II, the Korean War and the Vietnam War eras who would like to travel to Washington, D.C., are encouraged to submit an application as soon as possible.
Veterans receive a free round-trip flight, and guardians pay $500 for the opportunity to accompany one or two veterans on the trip. Veterans and guardians interested in taking a future Honor Flight must complete an application at: www.neverforgottenhonorflight.org or contact the organization at 715-573-8519.
Veterans are selected based upon the order in which their applications are received and the conflict they served in. Preference is given to World War II veterans, then Korea Veterans and then Vietnam era veterans. Veterans who are terminally ill, regardless of when they served in those three eras, are given top preference. Guardians should be 18-69 years of age and able to lend physical assistance to the veterans. Completed applications for veterans and guardians also can be mailed to Never Forgotten Honor Flight, 4404 Rib Mountain Drive, #234, Wausau, WI 54401.
