For thousands of veterans, the journey to Washington, D.C. is more than a trip, it’s a long-overdue thank you.
Honor Flight gives those who served our country a chance to visit the memorials dedicated to their sacrifice, often for the first time.
History of the Honor Flight Network
The Honor Flight Network was established in 2005 by Earl Morse, a physician assistant and retired Air Force captain. In 1998, Morse was hired by the Department of Veterans Affairs to work in a small clinic in Springfield, Ohio near Wright-Patterson AFB. He often spoke to WWII veterans about visiting their new memorial in Washington, D.C., but found that it was financially or physically impossible for many of them to do so.
He wanted to do something to help them fulfill their dreams of visitng or nation’s capital to honor their friends and loved ones, so Earl enlisted some of his pilot buddies and personally took some of the veterans on the journey. It gained national attention, and the Honor Flight was born. Today, there are 129 active hubs in 45 states.
Honor Flight of Southern Indiana
Here in Southern Indiana, volunteers began the process of establishing a local Honor Flight hub to fly out of Evansville Regional Airport. Honor Flight of Southern Indiana was approved into the national network in January 2015 as the 133rd hub.
What Happens on an Honor Flight Trip?
When a veteran is selected to participate in an Honor Flight, they are accompanied by a friend, family member, or volunteer. They depart Evansville Regional Airport around 5 a.m. and head to Washington, D.C…