The Myrtle Beach Honor Flight program announces its 5th flight to Washington, D.C., set for Oct. 24, 2012.
This organization provides able-bodied WWII veterans with a no-charge, special charter flight to Washington, D.C., where they visit the WWII Memorial which was dedicated in 2004.
The most recent flight was May 23, 2012, and included 90 WWII veterans, their guardian sponsors, a medical team and Honor Flight organizers. The day-long trip took them to visit their memorial, in addition to the Korean and Vietnam War Memorials, the Navy Memorial, Iwo Jima and finally, Arlington National Cemetery. A welcome home ceremony awaited their return to Myrtle Beach that evening.
Walter Kollet, Chairperson for Honor Flight Myrtle Beach, emphasized the fact that WWII veterans are dying at the rate of over 1,200 daily nationwide. Because of their age, Kollet said, “Most WWII veterans lack the ways and means to visit their Memorial. With Honor Flight, we make that possible.”
“Honor Flight Myrtle Beach adopted the slogan, Time is of the Essence, and the support from the entire Grand Strand community is needed to help identify these veterans to give them a chance to make this trip,” said Kris Southard, director of Public Relations.
Honor Flight is a national, non-profit 501(c)3 organization with chapters throughout the United States. Each flight costs around $60,000 and money is raised entirely from donations and fund-raising events. Guardian sponsors make a $500 Honor Flight donation to accompany the veterans on each flight. The inaugural flight was Nov. 10, 2010.
Anyone interested in the Oct. 24 flight should contact Honor Flight immediately at 843-957-8212, or go to the website www.honorflightmyrtlebeach.com. Donations can be made to Honor Flight Myrtle Beach, P.O. Box 1212, Pawleys Island, S.C. 29585. Donations can also be made securely on the website through PayPal.
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