HONOR FLIGHT TO TREAT 82 VETERANS TO D.C. TRIP

Group of 82 set to fly from West Palm to Washington.

WEST PALM BEACH — Fourteen World War II veterans, and an additional 68 from the Korean War, are scheduled to fly Saturday from West Palm Beach to Washington in the third of four 2018 Honor Flights.

Stuart-based Southeast Florida Honor Flight, one of more than 130 such groups nationwide, flies veterans from Indian River, St. Lucie, Martin, Okeechobee and Palm Beach counties to Washington free of charge. Eightytwo veterans flew May 19.

The veterans scheduled to travel Saturday are to leave Palm Beach International Airport at 6 a.m. on a charter flight. In Washington, they will board four police-escorted motor coaches and will visit the Air Force Memorial, then head to Arlington National Cemetery and watch the Changing of the Guard ceremony, before visiting the World War II and Korean War memorials.

Branches represented on this flight: Army (46 service members), Navy (10), Air Force (15), Marine Corps (8) and Coast Guard (3). Positions included tail gunner, cook, radio operator, tank driver and mail clerk.

Veterans on the trip served stateside or in combat in places that included central Europe, the Philippines, the Chosin Reservoir and Heartbreak Ridge, both in Korea.

The public is asked to go to PBIA on Saturday night to welcome the veterans home. The plane is scheduled to land about 7:20 p.m. People should gather early at Concourse A-B on Level 2. Signs and flags are welcome.

Southeast Florida Honor Flight is asking the public’s help to find veterans who qualify and haven’t yet taken an honor flight. Flights are open to veterans of Vietnam, Korea and World War II, with priority given to those from World War II and veterans with terminal illnesses. Honor Flight also seeks volunteers to escort the veterans.

The year’s last flight is set for Oct. 13.

To learn more about the honor flights, or to volunteer as an escort or make a donation, call 855-FLYAVET (855-359-2838) or visit www. honorflightsefl.org.