Honor Flight Veterans to Reunite at American Airpower Museum
Public invited to salute 46 Long Island veterans during patriotic ceremony celebrating their Honor Flight to Washington, D.C.
The American Airpower Museum and Honor Flight Long Island will welcome the public Aug. 1 for a special reunion honoring 46 Long Island veterans who traveled to Washington, D.C., earlier this year to visit the nation’s military memorials.
The patriotic event will be held from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Hangar 3 of the American Airpower Museum, 1230 New Highway, Farmingdale.
The veterans participated in a free Honor Flight on May 2, when they visited the World War II, Korean War and Vietnam Veterans memorials, Arlington National Cemetery, the Air Force Memorial, Navy Memorial and other historic sites in the nation’s capital.
According to Honor Flight Long Island President Bill Jones, the group included 41 Vietnam War veterans, one World War II veteran and four Korean War veterans. “This special flight included 41 Vietnam War Veterans who received long overdue recognition and thanks for their service,” Jones said. “What this flight really represented was a ‘Big Hug’ to all our veterans from Honor Flight, their families and supporters.”
The reunion will feature a “Ceremony of Honors,” during which each veteran will receive a commemorative Tribute Journal filled with photographs from the Washington trip. Remarks will be delivered by Jones and American Airpower Museum President Jeff Clyman.
Entertainment will include the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary Flotilla Band performing the “Armed Forces Salute,” featuring the official songs of the six military branches, and Honor Flight guardian Eric Wieboldt of Merrick performing his original song, Welcome Home, My Brother, written to honor Vietnam veterans who never received a proper welcome home. Complimentary refreshments will be served.
Admission is free for veterans, guardians and their families. Members of the public may also attend free between 10:30 a.m. and noon. Regular museum admission applies after noon.
Since 2007, Honor Flight Long Island has flown more than 2,000 veterans to Washington, D.C., free of charge to visit the memorials dedicated to their service, noted Air Power Museum spokesman Robert Salant.
The organization is accepting applications from veterans interested in participating in future Honor Flights. Contact them at ddbeach5@gmail.com.