82 veterans to be part of first Honor Flight of year on Saturday
Organizers looking for people to welcome them when they return.
WEST PALM BEACH — Eighty-two veterans will fly from Palm Beach International Airport to Washington, D.C., early Saturday for the first local Honor Flight of 2018.
The veterans, 15 from World War II and 67 from the Korean War, will board four police-escorted motor coaches and visit the Air Force Memorial, watch the changing of the guard at Arlington National Cemetery and tour both the World War II Memorial and the Korean War Memorial.
Organizers asked people again to come to PBIA at about 7:20 p.m. Saturday to welcome the veterans back at Level 2, Concourse A-B. People are encouraged to bring signs of thanks and flags and are asked to arrive early.
The nonprofit, Stuart-based Southeast Florida Honor Flight, one of 131 such operations in 45 states, flies veterans from Indian River, St. Lucie, Martin, Okeechobee and Palm Beach counties free of charge “to visit and reflect at the memorials built to honor their service and sacrifices,” the group said Tuesday in an advisory.
Honor Flight said some of the veterans flying Saturday served during both conflicts. They were stateside and in the Normandy invasion and the battles of The Bulge and Okinawa in World War II, and the battles of the Chosin Reservoir, Pork Chop Hill, Heartbreak Ridge and Inchon in Korea.
The 82 comprise 57 from the Army, 17 Navy, eight Air Force, four Marines and two Coast Guard. Their military duties included B-29 mechanic, heavy machine gunner, counterintelligence, motor pool driver, infantry commander and honor guard.
The next scheduled Southeast Florida Honor Flight event is May 19. Top priority continues to be World War II veterans and veterans of any conflict who have life-threatening conditions.
Southeast Florida Honor Flight relies on word of mouth to find veterans for flights as well as people willing to escort them. It also welcomes donations. For more, call 1-855-FLYAVET (359-2838) or visit www.honorflightsefl.org.