Long Island Veterans Return From 'Honor Flight' To D.C. Memorials

ISLIP, NY—Honor Flight Long Island has been sending veterans to Washington, D.C., some for the very first time, to see the World War II Memorial and other landmarks honoring their service. The honor flights had to pause in 2020 due the pandemic, but recently the first group of veterans to embark on the celebratory journey since 2019 returned to MacArthur Airport.

The Honor Flight program has sent over 245,000 veterans of World War II, the Korean and Vietnam wars and veterans of other foreign conflicts since 2005. The program's founders realized many veterans as they age might never have the financial or practical means to visit the World War II Memorial dedicated to their service and sacrifice in 2004.

The Long Island veterans received a free one-day trip to their national memorial, accompanied by volunteers.

Honor Flight Long Island is funded entirely by donations from residents and businesses. Veterans are selected on a first-come, first-serve basis once they submit an application.

"It is the intention of Honor Flight Long Island to honor as many of our fellow Long Islanders, who helped to preserve our freedom, as we can by providing them a free trip to visit their memorial," the website explained.

This fall's group of veterans returned home to a hero's welcome, with Islip Town officials in attendance.

“For many of these Veterans, it is their first time visiting the World War II Memorial and other war memorials such as the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier,” Supervisor Angie Carpenter said in a statement.

“It is a privilege to have Honor Flight Long Island use our airport as a means to help these veterans achieve a lifelong dream,” she added.