Honor Flight takes veterans on last trip of 2014

  • Published
  • By Claude Morse
  • Honor Flight of Middle Tennessee
ARNOLD AIR FORCE BASE, TENN. --  The Honor Flight of Middle Tennessee completed its last flight of 2014 with 51 World War II, Korean War veterans and their guardians.

Honor Flight is a nationwide program to take eligible veterans from all the armed services on a free trip to see their war memorials in the nation's capital. World War II veterans get top priority followed by Korean War veterans. Terminally ill veterans from those wars who are well enough to fly with a doctor's approval go to the front of the line.

The fall flight had veterans from all the military services, including the Coast Guard. Two of the veterans had served in World War II, Korea and Vietnam. The oldest veteran on the trip was 94. Most were residents of Tennessee although at least one veteran was from Kentucky.

The veterans were picked up in Winchester, with stops in Tullahoma and Manchester. Police and sheriff's departments from Franklin and Coffee counties as well as the Tennessee National Guard and the American Legion Riders escorted the bus. Members of the Patriot Guard Riders met the veterans at the Nashville Airport with an American flag arch when they arrived and when they returned at 9 p.m.

The group flew on Southwest Airlines, the official airline of Honor Flight, to Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport and back the same day.

In Washington, D.C. the veterans got to spend time at the National World War II Memorial, Korean War Veterans  Memorial, the Vietnam Veterans War Memorial and the United States Air Force Memorial. They also stopped at the Marine Corps War Memorial.

The afternoon concluded with the solemn changing of the guard ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery. This was followed with a special performance by The United States Army Old Guard Fife and Drum Corps at Fort Myer, Va.then supper in the base dining hall before flying home. 

The Honor Flight of Middle Tennessee is a Tennessee 501c3 non-profit cooperation.  All donations are tax deductible. It was originally formed as the Southern Middle Tennessee Honor Flight in 2008 with Milton Schafer of Winchester as its chairman. The name was changed in 2013 to reflect the area of the state it covered and it was granted 501c3 status in 2014. Since 2009 the group has made two flights per year for approximately 50 veterans and their guardians on each flight.

Veterans pay nothing for the trip. All airfare, meals and incidentals are covered by donations. Each veteran gets a distinctive ball cap and polo shirt. Guardians pay their own way. It costs approximately $18,000 - $20,000 for each flight.

The Honor Flight committee expressed their thanks for all businesses, organizations and individuals who have generously donated the funds necessary for each flight. Fundraising is currently underway for the spring 2015 flight as the group will have to spend $13,000-$14,000 in advanced payment for airfare and buses to reserve the spring date by January.

Tax deductible donations can be sent to Honor Flight of Middle Tennessee at P.O. Box 1926, Tullahoma, TN 37388-1926.

For more information call 931-924-3000.