Program Benefits
- Ideally designed for WWII, Korean War or Vietnam veterans and accompanying family or friends (“guardians”) willing to fund and secure their OWN transportation to the Baltimore Washington International (BWI) Airport or the BWI Hilton.
- Multiple tour dates available for the veteran and guardians (see schedule below).
- More than one guardian can accompany the veteran. However the maximum party size cannot exceed 5, including the veteran.
- Veteran and guardians can arrive and depart the D.C. area on a date time and method of their choosing.
- The Honor Flight Solo participant will be a part of a large group of veterans from all over the United States. They will experience the admiration and recognition of the public everywhere they tour in Washington D.C.
- Experienced trip leaders lead the operation throughout D.C., securing wheelchairs and oxygen if needed.
Basic Program Concept
- We’re running out of time and lack sufficient funding to transport EVERY WWII, Korean War or Vietnam veteran to D.C. Over 20,000 WWII, Korean War or Vietnam Veterans are on our national Honor Flight Network (HFN) waiting list. Some have been waiting for years and sadly hundreds of them have died. Daily we struggle to reach these incredible men and women who were willing to sacrifice everything for all of us. Our national network has been able to make the dreams of over 150,000 veterans come true; however we lack sufficient funding to rapidly reach everyone else. We desperately need an alternative program to reach everyone and believe the Honor Flight Solo effort will do that.
- The Honor Flight Network Solo Program piggy backs on our “Southwest Lone Eagle” Program, which targets isolated individual veterans who have been on our National waiting list for over one year. They live in areas where no HFN Hub exits. More information about the Southwest Lone Eagle program can be found at:
http://www.honorflight.org/southwest-lone-eagle-program. Southwest Lone Eagle participants from across the country board separate flights to BWI Airport in Maryland. Once they arrive, they’re greeted by volunteers at the airport who place them on the Hilton BWI shuttle van. After getting checked into the hotel, everyone then attends a group meeting to discuss the next day’s activities, issue name tags, t-shirts and much more. The next morning, hotel guests enjoy a complete buffet breakfast. Afterwards, everyone meets in the hotel lobby to board a deluxe motor coach (with wheelchair lift) to tour D.C. After a full day of visiting military memorials and several other locations, the bus heads back to the Hilton BWI for rest, reminiscing, relaxation and then off to bed. Sunday morning, another delicious buffet breakfast, then participants head back to the airport for their flights back home, assisted by Official Honor Flight Ground Crew. - Over the years we’ve discovered there are often several seats available on Saturday’s tour
bus. The Hilton BWI also has plenty of discounted rooms available for Honor Flight Network guests. The Solo Program will finally permit us to take FULL advantage of the available seats and rooms, while helping hundreds of veterans, their families and friends enjoy this once-in-a-lifetime experience. - Every veteran participating in the Solo program MUST be escorted by at least one guardian. NO EXCEPTIONS!
- Advantages of the Solo Program include:
- Provided there is enough room on the bus, several guardians (maximum of 4) can accompany the Veteran throughout the entire 1, 2 or 3 day experience.
- Since Solo participants secure and fund their own transportation, they can stay in the D.C. area before and after the Solo/Lone Eagle tour dates. Solo participants determine their own departure dates, times and methods of travel.
- The three day Honor Flight Solo experience is FREE for the veterans. The accompanying guardians are asked to cover their discounted expenses with a donation to the Honor Flight Network.
- Flexible expenses for the guardians, from a ONE day event (no lodging, meet at BWI Hilton the morning of the tour) for a $125.00 donation or the full three day event (meals, lodging included) for $400.00.
- The basic ONE day tour for the veteran and guardian(s) usually includes:
- Saturday deluxe motor coach (with wheelchair lift) tour all around D.C.
- Tour of the WWII, Lincoln, Korean, Vietnam, Iwo Jima, Air Force and Navy Memorials.
- View a changing of the guard at Arlington Cemetery.
- Large sandwich box lunch and all-you-can-eat dinner at the Golden Corral or a banquet at the hotel.
- Wheelchairs and oxygen if needed for the day.
- Experienced trip leaders.
- Honor Flight Network Tee Shirt for all participants.
- Additional services usually provided for the full THREE day venture are as follows:
- Two nights lodging at the BWI Hotel.
- Personal greeters at the BWI Airport.
- Shuttle service to and from the BWI Airport.
- Buffet breakfasts at the BWI Hilton.
- Wheelchairs and in-room oxygen available as needed.
- SATURDAY ONLY – Veterans and guardians that only want to participate on Saturday need to meet at the Hilton BWI at 7:30 a.m. Breakfast buffet would NOT be included since no one would be a guest of the Hilton BWI. Every aspect of the tour is free to the veteran. Accompanying guardians are asked for a donation of $125.00 to cover expenses. If more seats are available on the bus and more guardians (i.e., family members) wanted to accompany the veteran, this too is possible. Again, the donation requested would be $125.00 for each family member or additional guardian.
- SATURDAY & ONE NIGHT – For veterans and guardians that want to tour on Saturday AND spend just ONE night (Friday or Saturday) at the Hilton BWI. The donation amount requested from the guardian would be $275.00.
- ENTIRE EVENT (SATURDAY & TWO NIGHTS) – For the veterans and their guardian staying TWO nights (Friday and Saturday) at the Hilton BWI, the donation amount for the guardian is $400. If additional family members (guardians) require an additional room(s) the donation requested is $400 per room.
- April 1-3
- May 13-15
- June 10-12
- September 9-11
- October 7-9
- November 4-6
Severe weather, vehicle accidents or incidents, unexpected traffic jams, road closures or other unforeseen circumstances might prohibit participants from visiting the anticipated locations or accomplishing assigned tasks as outlined above.
Oxygen: All veterans and accompanying family members who need oxygen WILL be in a wheelchair during the tour. They will also need one specific guardian assigned to the person on oxygen.
Three Program Options
Requested Guardian Donation Amounts
| EVENT | REQUESTED AMOUNT |
|---|---|
| Saturday ONLY | $125.00 |
| Saturday and ONE Night | $275.00 |
| Saturday and TWO Nights | $400.00 |
Interested? Take the next step!
Please contact the Director of Honor Flight Network’s Southwest Lone Eagle & Solo Programs, Mr. Mclaughlin at (614) 558-6220 or e-mail him at chairman@honorflight.org.
