Veterans who want to visit memorials in Washington, D.C. are in luck: The Old Dominion Honor Flight will fly them out––– for free.
The ODHF Mission 2 flight is on April 25 and is open to World War II, Korean and Vietnam War veterans. View the application here.
“A trip to Washington, D.C. with Old Dominion Honor Flight is an all-day, immersive event” said Matt Hartman, mission director of the local Honor Flight chapter. “It is designed to provide our nation’s heroes with honor and closure and is described by many participants as a truly ‘once in a lifetime’ event.”
While veterans who have not been on a Honor Flight can participate, priority is given to World War II veterans and those who are terminally ill.
Up to 100 veterans can come. Last year, the nonprofit took 86 veterans to DC.
This nonprofit is a part of a nationwide organization called Honor Flight.
Previously, the Honor Flight Historic Triangle Virginia chapter had been operating for 10 years before it dissolved in January 2019 because the board of directors felt they had fulfilled their mission of bringing World War II veterans to the memorial, Hartman said.
The new ODHF chapter continues the Honor Flight mission and serves veterans from Southeast Virginia area, including Elizabeth City, North Carolina up through Hampton Roads and Richmond to Fredericksburg, including the Eastern Shore, and west to Farmville, according to a news release from the organization.
Hartman said every veteran gets assigned a guardian.
People can volunteer as guardians for the trip but must take a two week training course and pay $125 to participate. See the guardian application here.
However, spouses, even if they are primary caregivers, cannot be guardians, per the organization’s rules.
Besides the Word War II, Korean and Vietnam War Memorials, attendees can visit the National Museum of the Marine Corps in Quantico, the Air Force Memorial in Arlington, and Arlington National Cemetery,” according to the news release.
The buses will depart from Embassy Suites at Hampton Convention Center in Hampton and the American Legion Post 175 in Mechanicsville.
“Our sole mission is to honor America’s veterans for their service,” Hartman said. “We invite our World War II, Korean War, and Vietnam War Veterans to apply to be a part of this amazing experience.”
The next trip will be on Oct. 10.
People who wish to donate can use PayPal or Facebook donation to search for the nonprofit until the main website is available.
For more information about the Old Dominion Honor Flight, call 877-261-3430 or email them at olddominionhf@gmail.com. You can also find them on Facebook.
