Ninety-one veterans will be given the trip of a lifetime, as the second Central Missouri Honor Flight (CMHF) of the year and No. 63 overall will take flight early Monday, June 20.
According to a news release, the passenger list will include three Korean War and 88 Vietnam veterans all deserving of their honor flight to Washington, D.C. to see the memorials dedicated to their military service. Traveling with the veterans will be a medical team as well as guardians who assist veterans with wheelchairs, walkers, oxygen and companionship on the flight.
All of the veterans will enjoy a one-day tour of the WWII, Korean War and Vietnam Memorials, as well as the Battle of Iwo Jima Memorial and Arlington National Cemetery. They also will be on hand to witness the Changing of the Guard at the Tomb of the Unknowns.
CMHF’s 63rd mission departs Columbia at 1:45 a.m. and returns to a rousing homecoming at 9:45 p.m. at the Columbia Courtyard by Marriott at 3301 Lemone Industrial Drive.
The public is encouraged to arrive at approximately 8:30 p.m. on Monday to get a good view of the returning veterans whose buses arrive under the stars and stripes of a large American flag of the Columbia Fire Department. Area law-enforcement agencies facilitate the honor flight buses’ return to Columbia, including the Missouri State Highway Patrol. The buses are escorted along I-70 from Kingdom City by hundreds of motorcyclists as part of the Central Missouri Honor Flight Riders.
Area residents are encouraged to bring the family and give these veterans a loud and proud “welcome home!” by bringing banners and posters and waving flags upon their return.
Honor flights are provided at no cost to the veterans. CMHF is supported through generous business, organizational and individual donations from thousands in mid-Missouri. CMHF currently has a waiting list of veterans and will be contacting those individuals to participate in future flights in the order they applied. New applications are welcome, and applications can be downloaded at the organization’s website at www.centralmissourihonorflight.com. Or applicants may call (573) 256-1930 to leave their address and have an application mailed to them.