09/15/2014

Sept. 15, 2014 — 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 World War II and Korean War veterans to their memorials in Washington, D.C. at no cost. All veterans traveling on this flight are from the Greater Cincinnati, Northern Kentucky and South Eastern Indiana area.

This flight is extra special to CVG as two of our community volunteer Airport Ambassadors will be on the flight. Bill Miller served in the US Army and Charles Yancey served in the US Navy. Bill Miller has been with the Ambassador Program since the beginning which started in 1994 and Charles Yancey became an Airport Ambassador in 1996.

The September 16 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 September 16 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 149 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.  The next Honor Flight will be October 21.

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