04/13/2015

April 13, 2015 — Seventy-two Tristate veterans and their guardians will take an Honor Flight from CVG tomorrow, destined for Washington D.C. to see memorials and participate in ceremonies that honor their service to their country.

Honor Flight Tri-State is a non-profit organization whose sole mission is to fly veterans 65 and older who served stateside or overseas to their memorials in Washington, D.C. at no cost. The oldest veterans will fly first. All veterans traveling on this flight are from the Greater Cincinnati, Northern Kentucky and South Eastern Indiana area.

The April 14 flight will include visits to the World War II Memorial, Korean War Memorial, Vietnam War Memorial, Iwo Jima, Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and the US Air Force Memorial and other Washington D.C. sights.

“Our goal is to honor as many veterans as we can before it is too late,” said Cheryl Popp, director of Honor Flight Tri-State. "If you want to meet the veterans -- please come to the airport at 6 a.m. or be among the many locals welcoming them home at 10:15 pm the same night!"

The April 22 flight will depart CVG at 8 a.m. It will be preceded by bag pipes from the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Department, an Honor Guard ceremony and other special remarks in the area near the east end of the security checkpoint, all beginning about 6 a.m.

“We are honored to play a part in an event that recognizes true national heroes who bravely served our country,” said Wm.T. (Bill) Robinson III, Kenton County Airport Board Chairman.

A total of 150 people will be on the US Airways chartered flight. Each veteran is accompanied by a guardian, 60% of the guardians are family and 40% of the guardians are volunteers.

Honor Flight Tri-State makes a total of five trips to Washington, D.C. per year. The upcoming dates are: May 19, August 18, September 22 and October 20. The September 22 trip will be a first all-female Honor Flight in the country.

To contribute or volunteer for Honor Flight Tri-State, please visit honorflighttristate.org.