Category: Recent News
PMG-ky2.com
By Victoria Cox Editor
In 20 days, three LaRue County men who left their homes and families to defend our nation and the freedoms enjoyed today will travel to Washington, D.C. to visit the memorials dedicated to honoring their service and sacrifices. April 21, 2026, has therefore been proclaimed as Honor Flight Day in LaRue County.
The Honor Flight Network is a non-profit organization dedicated to locating, identifying and transporting eligible veterans on an all-expenses-paid tour of their memorials at the nation’s capital. Honor Flight Bluegrass is a chapter of the network based in Louisville that was created to honor America’s WWII, Korea War, Cold War, and Vietnam War veterans for all their sacrifices.
The round-trip flights not only allow these veterans the opportunity to see the monuments dedicated to their service, but for many, especially Vietnam vets, the flights, and especially the people greeting them at airports, give them closure and a welcome home they never received when they returned from war.
Three LaRue County Vietnam veterans will embark on this journey on April 21: Ronnie Benningfield, Earl Riggs and Gene Keith. On account of this, LaRue County Judge Executive Blake Durrett has proclaimed the day as Honor Flight Day in an effort to call upon all citizens to express their deep gratitude and admiration for the sacrifices of our veterans.
“I’ve not served our country as they have, but I do love to honor them because I think we need them as a member of our society; we need to remember where we’ve been,” Durrett said. “[Vietnam veterans] did not get a very good welcome back to the United States, so we’re going to give them plenty of a good welcome.”
Riggs attended the LaRue County Fiscal Court’s Tuesday, March 24 meeting to accept the proclamation.
“When I was there – and I’m not saying this for you all to feel sorry for me – 200 Americans were killed a day; I didn’t even know that until I left,” he said. “I don’t know what you think about Vietnam veterans, but all I know is I served with some of the bravest men and women in the world.”
The LaRue County Herald News will provide coverage of the honor flight recipients and their experiences after the trip.
WJHG
By Alexis Lewis
FLORIDA (WJHG/WECP) – More than 120 veterans participated in an all-female Honor Flight from Lakeland on Wednesday.
Female veterans ages 32-91 traveled to Washington D.C., visiting war monuments to honor their service, sacrifices, and loved ones
Senator Ashley Moody met with them at the Lincoln Memorial to deliver a special thank you for their service.
“Our freedom exists because of the courage and sacrifice of the men and women of the U.S. Armed Forces. Today, I had the privilege of welcoming a group of Florida veterans as they toured the national memorials honoring their service. This extraordinary group of all-female service members shared powerful stories from their time defending our nation. Though we can never fully repay them for their sacrifice, it was an honor to meet them and offer my heartfelt thanks,” Senator Moody said.
WBNG
By Madeline L. Adams
SOUTHERN TIER, N.Y. (WBNG) — The Twin Tiers Honor Flight, a program that takes veterans on trips to the nation’s capital, wouldn’t be possible without the dedication of the women behind the scenes.
Patty Vincent, president and medical director of Twin Tiers Honor Flight, said her first mission did not go as planned. The trip departed from Ithaca, ran two hours late and did not return until 4:30 the following morning.
Despite that, Vincent said she returned after receiving a phone call asking her to use her medical skills on a second trip.
“I kind of got hooked,” she said.
Vincent has led the organization since 2019. Her connection to the mission is personal — her great-aunt served in the Navy, was head nurse at the hospital in Pearl Harbor during the attack and became the first female captain in the Navy. Vincent said she is named after her.
“She’s buried at Arlington. So quite often when we go there, she’s not far from the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, so I’ll go down and have a little conversation,” Vincent said.
NGAUS.org
WASHINGTON, D.C. (March 12, 2026) — A new National Guard Educational Foundation program will cover the cost for most NGAUS members to escort veterans traveling on Honor Flight trips to Washington, D.C., to visit memorials that commemorate their service.
Honor Flight Guardians stay with their assigned veterans for the entire trip, providing physical assistance, logistical support and companionship throughout the journey. Veterans pay nothing for the trip, thanks to a long list of sponsors, but Guardians usually donate $400 or more for the experience.
The George and Charlotte Demetriades Guardian Program, which is administered by the NGEF in conjunction with the Honor Flight Network, will cover that expense for NGAUS active-annual, active-life and digital-life members.
George Demetriades Jr., the son of George and Charlotte Demetriades, is underwriting the program. He is an Iraqi War veteran who served in both the Maryland and Tennessee Army National Guard. He now owns and operates two Chick-fil-A restaurants in Arlington, Virginia.
“The George and Charlotte Demetriades Guardian Program reflects the very heart of our mission, bringing generations of service members together to honor the sacrifices of our veterans,” said Theresa Werner, the chairman of the board of the Honor Flight Network.
“By enabling members of the National Guard to serve as Guardians, this program not only supports our veterans on their journey to Washington, D.C., but also strengthens the enduring bond between those who have served our nation in different eras,” she added.
George Demetriades Jr. said he is honoring his late mother, a teacher, and his late father, a former North Carolina National Guard officer, by joining two organizations that “are a big part of my life — the National Guard and Honor Flight.”
“I believe it’s critically important, especially for our younger Guard leaders, to meet and learn from those who came before us,” he said. “And this program will remove the financial barrier for most NGAUS members currently serving in the National Guard to be an Honor Flight Guardian.”
Honor Flights began in May 2005 when a retired Air Force captain Earl Morse organized the first trips using private planes to take World War II veterans from Springfield, Ohio, to Washington, D.C., to see their memorials. A few years later, businessman Jeff Miller collaborated with Morse to expand the program nationwide, creating the Honor Flight Network.
Today, the Honor Flight Network brings approximately 22,000 veterans annually to the nation’s capital. Nearly 40,000 are currently on waitlists to join a flight. Many have never been to Washington, D.C.
Flights are organized by over 130 active Honor Flight Hubs across 46 states. The NGEF pays the Hub directly from the Guardian Program for space on the plane and expenses in Washington, D.C. Most Honor Flight trips are one-day trips.
Veterans typically visit the World War II Memorial, Korean War Veterans Memorial, Vietnam Veterans Memorial and Arlington National Cemetery for the Changing of the Guard. Many Honor Flight trips also include stops at the Marine Corps War Memorial, Air Force Memorial, Navy Memorial, Military Women’s Memorial and the Pentagon Memorial.
“This program will provide some unforgettable experiences,” said retired Maj. Gen. Francis M. McGinn, the NGAUS/NGEF president. “The Guardians will learn what service was like during the Korean and Vietnam War eras. And I’m sure the veterans will be curious about things today. The shared bonds of uniformed service will close the generation gap very quickly.”
The NGEF first announced the program in early January. Several association members have already applied through their local Hub and have a seat on an upcoming flight, said Luke Guthrie, the NGEF director.
Honor Flight trips are set to resume regularly later this month after taking a break for the winter.
More information, including application procedures and a list of 2026 scheduled Honor Flight trips, is available at www.ngef.org/demetriades-honor-flight-guardian-program.
Reporters, Editors & Producers: Retired Maj. Gen. Francis M. McGinn is available for interviews or to appear as a subject matter expert on issues related to the National Guard. Contact John Goheen at 202-408-5882 to schedule an interview or appearance.
About NGAUS: The association includes nearly 45,000 current or former Guard officers. It was created in 1878 to provide unified National Guard representation in Washington. In their first productive meeting after Reconstruction, militia officers from the North and South formed the association with the goal of obtaining better equipment and training by educating Congress on Guard requirements. Today, 148 years later, NGAUS has the same mission.
About NGEF: The foundation preserves and tells all 390 years of the National Guard story. Independent of NGAUS but co-located in the National Guard Memorial, the association’s headquarters in Washington, it relies solely on charitable contributions to carry out its mission. More information is available at www.ngef.org.
Walden resident named Vice Chairman of Honor Flight Network’s Board
WALDEN- Walden resident Frank P. Kimler has been elected as the Honor Flight Network’s Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors.
“I am deeply honored to serve as Vice Chairman of the Honor Flight Network,” said Kimler. “It is a privilege to be the vice chairman of an organization that so meaningfully honors our nation’s veteran heroes.”
Kimler has served on the National Honor Flight Network Board for six years as the organization’s treasurer, and brings deep expertise in nonprofit governance, finance, and tax-exempt organizations to the role, spending more than 25 years in public accounting.
Kimler served as Chairman of Hudson Valley Honor Flight, Inc. (one of the Honor Flight Network’s more than 130 hubs) for 10 years, since the organization’s incorporation. Kimler also founded the Honor Flight’s out of Westchester County Airport, in White Plains. A dedicated advocate for veterans, Kimler’s passion for honoring and serving those who have served our nation was instilled by his father and grandparents, who served during the Vietnam War and World War II. That legacy of service continues to guide his leadership and commitment to Honor Flight’s mission.
“Frank’s financial expertise, nonprofit knowledge, and unwavering dedication to veterans make him an invaluable leader,” said Theresa Werner, Board Chair of Honor Flight Network. “We are grateful for his continued service and leadership as we work to expand our impact nationwide.”
Selfless Among Us: How Tom Petrie Honors Heroes, One Flight at a Time
2 WGRZ
Melissa Holmes
BUFFALO, N.Y. — On Father’s Day weekend in 2013, Tom Petrie thought he was simply going to the airport to support a good cause. His daughter Heather had invited him to greet a group of veterans returning from an Honor Flight—part of a national network of flights that brings aging veterans to Washington, D.C., to visit the memorials built in their honor.
He had no idea that visit would change the course of his life.
“I was all in,” he recalls of that first experience. “Once I saw them come home, the expressions on their faces, the welcome home they got—it touched my heart in a way I hadn’t expected.”
That heartfelt spark grew into a decade-long commitment. Today, Petrie serves as the volunteer President of the Board of Directors for Buffalo Niagara Honor Flight, a nonprofit hub in a national network that has transported over 100,000 veterans to Washington. Under Tom’s leadership, the Buffalo Niagara chapter alone has flown more than 1,000 local veterans to their long-overdue recognition.
Dozens of Central Florida veterans embark on honor flight to DC
Wesh 2
Paola Tristan Arruda
SANFORD, Fla. —
Dozens of Central Florida veterans took a special honor flight to Washington, D.C., organized by Villages Honor Flight.
“I’m here to enjoy the honor flight and go to Washington, D.C., and look up some of my friends on the Vietnam wall,” said Robert Kerfin, an Army veteran.
Roughly 153 passengers, comprised of military veterans, guardians, and staff, boarded an Allegiant flight on Wednesday.
“This is just a wonderful thing to give back to the veterans. I mean, we live in a free country because of our veterans, and that’s the least we can do to give back,” said Bob Siano, Flight Director for this Villages Honor Flight mission.
The oldest passenger on this mission is 93-year-old Richard Schlosser.
“I was in the Air Force from 1950 to 1964, right during the middle of the Korean War. I never had to go to Korea because I was needed in the United States. You only get one shot at this, you know, you get one chance to do it. And I feel like at my age, I better do it now,” said Schlosser, an Air Force veteran.
Military vets fly from Midway to Washington DC in 1st honor flight of season
ABC 7 Chicago
Christian Piekos
CHICAGO (WLS) — The first honor flight of the season took off Wednesday morning at Midway Airport.
A group of veterans will embark on a one-day trip to Washington, D.C.
This is such a special once in a lifetime trip for more than 100 Chicago area veterans from all branches of the military. They’re in Washington D.C. visiting war memorials.
The Star Spangled Banner rang out throughout Midway Airport before dawn as they boarded the plane for this powerful journey.
An emotional send off for 114 soldiers, sailors, marines and airmen, embarking on the first Honor Flight of the season.
Local 12
WKRC
HEBRON, Ky. (WKRC) – Eighty-eight veterans and their companions flew to Washington, D.C.
They took off from the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport in the year’s first Honor Flight.
Stewartville hosts breakfast to help fund upcoming Honor Flight for area vets
ABC 6 News
Alexander Schmidt
(ABC 6 News) – Stewartville’s American Legion Post 164’s Auxiliary held its annual egg bake breakfast to great success on Sunday, serving more than 200 people.
This year, the event raised more than $2,600 to offset costs related to an upcoming charter flight that will carry dozens of Korean and Vietnam-era vets to visit national war memorials and cemeteries in Washington, D.C.
“It’s an experience all veterans should take advantage of,” said North Star board member Jamie Stevenson. “These monuments are built for them, and we’re happy to provide this service to them.”