Seventy Tri-State veterans and their guardians will take an Honor Flight from Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport today destined for Washington, D.C., to see memorials and participate in ceremonies that honor their service to their country.
Honor Flight Tri-State’s mission is to fly veterans ages 65 and above who served stateside or overseas to their memorials in the nation’s capitol at no cost. All veterans traveling on this flight are from the Greater Cincinnati, Northern Kentucky and Southeastern Indiana area.
The veterans represented include 11 from World War II, 20 from the Korean War, 16 from Vietnam and 23 veterans from other conflicts. The trip will include visits to the World War II Memorial, Korean War Memorial, Vietnam War Memorial, Iwo Jima Memorial, Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, the U.S. Air Force Memorial and other sights.
“Our goal is to honor as many veterans as we can,” said Cheryl Popp, director of Honor Flight Tri-State. “If you want to meet and thank the veterans, please come to the airport at 5:45 a.m. or be among the hundreds of locals welcoming them home at 8:15 p.m. the same night.”
The flight will depart CVG at 7:30 a.m. It will be preceded by bag pipes from the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Department, a TSA color guard ceremony and other special remarks in the area near the east end of the security checkpoint, all beginning about 5:45 a.m.
“These events are always so touching and unique to witness,” said Candace McGraw, chief executive officer at CVG. “We feel privileged to assist with such a special program honoring the veterans in our region.”
A total of 140 people will be on the American Airlines chartered flight, and each veteran is accompanied by a guardian. Sixty percent of the guardians are family, while 40 percent of the guardians are volunteers.
This is the first of six Honor Flight Tri-States of the year. Other flight dates are:
• May 22
• Aug. 28
• Sept. 25
• Oct. 3
• Oct. 23
To contribute or volunteer for Honor Flight Tri-State, please visit honorflighttristate.org.
