FIRST ‘HONOR FLIGHT’ VETERANS RETURN TO MEMORIALS SINCE COVID-19 PAUSE IN TRAVEL

​ARLINGTON, Va. (August 16, 2021) Media invited to ceremony welcoming veterans back to DC’s memorials – The Honor Flight Network resumes travel to Washington, DC this week after pausing its iconic trips for America’s veterans for nearly 16 months as a COVID-19 precaution. Honor Flight’s Chicago hub will transport 113 veterans to the nation’s war memorials on August 18 and host a brief ceremony at the National Mall’s World War II Memorial to mark Honor Flight’s long-awaited return. 

Media are invited to cover the World War II Memorial visit and ceremony.

​What: Honor Flight Chicago to hold brief ceremony at World War II Memorial for 113 veterans to mark Honor Flight Network resuming travel. Ceremony to include a Color Guard, military vocalist singing the National Anthem, and bugler performing Taps.
 
When: August 18, 12:30 p.m. – 1:40 p.m. (ceremony to begin at 12:45 p.m.)
 
Who: Interviews available with -

• David Smith, President and Chair, Honor Flight Board of Directors
• Doug Meffley, Director, Honor Flight Chicago
• Honored veterans (3 WWII, 34 Korean War, 76 Vietnam)

 
COVID-19 Precautions:

• Honor Flight Network (HFN) requires all 2021 Honor Flight participants to be fully vaccinated or receive a negative PCR test within 72 hours of the trip’s departure. HFN is strictly following health recommendations from the CDC, the District of Columbia, and each hub’s state and local jurisdiction, and the masking guidance of all trip venues.

 
Honor Flight trips have been called, “the experience of a lifetime” for veterans, who are brought to Washington, DC to experience the memorials built in their honor, with all transportation costs covered by Honor Flight. Currently marking its 16th year, the Honor Flight Network expects to soon reach the historic milestone of having served 250,000 veterans.
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About Honor Flight Network
The Honor Flight Network was formed in 2005 with a mission of honoring our nation’s veterans by bringing them to Washington, DC to visit the memorials and monuments dedicated to their service and sacrifice. The Honor Flight Network is currently comprised of over 130 hubs throughout the country dedicated to carrying out the Honor Flight mission. In addition to World War II veterans, the organization transports those who served in the Korean War, Vietnam War, intermediary operations, and in special cases of terminal illness or injury, veterans from more recent service eras. Since 2005, the Honor Flight Network has taken more than 240,000 veterans to Washington D.C.  For more information, visit honorflight.org.