Honor Flight is a nationwide program that takes eligible World War II, Korean War, and Vietnam veterans on a free trip to see their war memorials in the nation’s capital.
On Wednesday, twenty-nine local veterans made their way to Washington, D.C.
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. Vietnam Veterans who are at least 70 percent disabled due to exposure to Agent Orange herbicide or are terminally ill will be considered on a case-by-case basis after World War II and Korean War veterans.
Flights include veterans from all the armed services (including the Coast Guard and Merchant Marine service in WWII). On a recent flight, one of the veterans had served in World War II, Korea, and Vietnam.
Southern Middle Tennessee Veterans are picked up on a bus or van with American Legion Riders, police, rescue squads, and sheriff’s department escorts. The bus usually starts in Winchester, with pickups in Tullahoma, Manchester, and Murfreesboro. Veterans from other areas meet the group at the Nashville Airport.
Donations may be sent to Honor Flight of Middle Tennessee at P O Box 1926, Tullahoma, TN 37388-1926. For more information and for Veterans and Guardian applications, go to the group Web site – https://honorflightmidtn.org. For information on veterans applications, call 1-833-HONORUS.
Top photo: Convoy leaving the C-CAP building in Manchester, TN. Photo by the Coffee County Rescue Squad
