First Rhode Island Honor Flight Since 2019 Takes Off This Weekend

PROVIDENCE, RI — For the first time since the coronavirus pandemic hit, Rhode Island veterans can again take to the sky. This weekend, the first honor flight in the state since 2019 will take off, carrying veterans to a day of celebration and remembrance in Washington, D.C.

Joan McCarthy will be a "guardian" on the Saturday flight, serving as an escort to 97-year-old Harold Demopulos, who served in World War II as a teenager.

McCarthy is herself a veteran, a retired Navy commander. She served as a C130 flight nurse with the U.S. Air Force during Operation Desert Storm before transferring to the Navy and flying casualties. She retired in 2006.

As a guardian, McCarthy will be partnered with Demopulos for the daylong event, which will kick off just after 8 a.m. at T.F. Green Airport. The plane full of veterans and their guardians will fly via Southwest Airlines to the nation's capital. Once there, they will first visit the WWII memorial, followed by the rest of the national monuments and a special dinner. That evening, the group will fly home, returning to Rhode Island around 9 p.m.

"It's a whole big long day," McCarthy said. "This is my first time [serving as a guardian], it's a great opportunity ... The veterans will have a great time."

Rhode Island Honor Flights was founded by George Farrell, a retired fire chief. Flights are currently open to WWII, Korea and Vietnam veterans.

"The RI Fire Chiefs Honor Flight Hub is thrilled to be taking our first Honor Flight since September of 2019," Farrell told Patch. "We look forward to sharing our veterans Day of Honor in Washington, D.C. as they visit and reflect at those memorials built to honor their service and sacrifice. "

This weekend's flight will have 143 passengers in total, including 14 WWII veterans, 24 Korean War veterans and 22 Vietnam War veterans. Three of the Vietnam vets will serve as guardians for other passengers, along with 16 other veterans and two active duty service members serving as guardians.

Of the WWII veterans, two are 101 years old, one is 99, two are 98, four are 97, two are 95, one is 96, one is 94 and one is 93 years old.

McCarthy said she is honored to take part in the event, and looks forward to the day she can participate in her own honor flight.

Learn more about Rhode Island Honor Flights.