The first Kansas Honor Flight of the year will leave Wichita Eisenhower National Airport at 6:10 a.m. on Wednesday, carrying 13 World War II veterans and 13 Korean War veterans and their guardians to Washington, DC.  Included in this group is 88 year old Jeanne Hanson, who is a Korean War Navy veteran, and 94 year old Kathryn Schroeder who is a WWII Marine veteran, (see a recent Wichita Eagle article about Kathryn http://www.kansas.com/news/local/article66604222.html).

The veterans will enjoy a two-night stay in the nation’s capital, where the group visit the World War II Memorial, the Korean Veterans Memorial, Iwo Jima Memorial, the Navy Memorial, Air Force Memorial and the Vietnam Memorial.  Additionally, they will tour the Lincoln Memorial, Arlington National Cemetery, Ft. McHenry, and the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.

The public is invited to participate in the patriotic welcome home celebration on Friday.  The Southwest Airlines’ flight is scheduled to return at 11:15 am.  Free parking and shuttle service is available at the Best Western Airport Inn, 6815 W. Kellogg. Shuttle service starts at 10 a.m.  More information is available at www.kansashonorflight.org.

The trip has been organized by Kansas Honor Flight, Inc. The mission of Honor Flight is to transport America’s veterans to Washington, DC to visit the memorials at no cost to them, with current priority to WWII Veterans. Subsequent to the World War II Veterans, efforts then focus on Korean War Veterans followed by Vietnam War Veterans, honoring them in similar manner. Guardians, who pay their own travel expenses, accompany each veteran to ensure safe travel. Contributions from the public provide the necessary funding for this trip. Please visit www.kansashonorflight.org to find more information regarding this all-expense paid trip.