On Saturday, Aug. 13, the American Airpower Museum and Honor Flight Long Island will host a reunion of 37 Vietnam-era veterans and one WWII veteran.
On June 4, Honor Flight escorted this group of veterans on an early-morning free flight to Washington, D.C. Veterans and their guardians visited WWII and Vietnam Memorials, plus Arlington National Cemetery for a Changing of the Guard.
They returned to Islip later that evening for a rousing welcome by the Eastern Long Island Police Pipes and Drums Band, plus thunderous applause from hundreds of family and supporters!
According to Bill Jones, president, Honor Flight Long Island, West Point 1972 Graduate and U.S. Army veteran, “This special flight included 37 Vietnam veterans who received long overdue recognition and thanks for their military service. They were accompanied on this flight by one elder comrade, a WWII veteran of the ‘Greatest Generation.’ What this flight represented was a ‘Big Hug’ to all our veterans from Honor Flight, their families and supporters who make such flights possible,” he said.
On Aug. 13 the museum opens at 10:30 a.m. and the reunion is from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at AAM’s Hangar 3, 1230 New Highway, Farmingdale.
The public is encouraged to attend, applaud and cheer our veterans during the “Ceremony of Honors,” as each is presented with a personalized Tribute Journal full of photographs taken during their historic day in Washington, D.C. Admission for the 38 veterans, their guardians and families, is free.
Members of the public arriving for the event from 10:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. may attend free of charge. After 12:00 p.m., regular museum admission is $15 for adults, $12 for seniors and veterans, and $10 for kids (ages 5-12).
This great patriotic event includes speeches by HFLI President Bill Jones and AAM President and Founder Jeff Clyman. Elected officials are expected to attend and present citations to the veterans.
The U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary Flotilla Band will play a patriotic medley known as the “Armed Forces Salute,” featuring five official melodies of the U.S. Armed Forces: Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force and Coast Guard. Free refreshments will be provided by HFLI. Come to AAM and honor Long Island’s home-grown heroes!
HFLI is accepting applications from veterans of WWII, Korea and Vietnam. LI veterans are encouraged to sign up by going to the website, www.honorflightlongisland.org. It’s important to submit an application, as that will insure placement on our list. Veterans fly for free, thanks to donations from across Long Island.
They are accompanied by guardians, able-bodied volunteers who donate $400 (tax deductible) to offset their travel costs. If there is no family member to act as a guardian, HFLI has volunteers ready to step up and escort our heroes to their memorials. Questions? Call Jamie Bowden at (631) 702-2423 or by email at [email protected].
AAM and HFLI invites the news media to cover our special Veterans’ Reunion on Saturday, Aug. 13. Please contact Robert F. Salant, Public Affairs for American Airpower Museum and Honor Flight Long Island, to confirm your participation: (516) 328-3959 or [email protected].
