Kansas Honor Flight #44 is scheduled to return 11:25 a.m. on Friday at Eisenhower National Airport. The public is invited to participate in a patriotic welcome home celebration. Free parking and shuttle services are 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 honor flight departed Wednesday, carrying three World War II veterans, six Korean veterans, and 31 Vietnam War veterans and their guardians to Washington, DC. On this flight are two brothers, Vince and Francis Forbes, who served in the U.S. Army in Vietnam. Also on this trip is 96 year old George Cooper from Tonganoxie. He is a retired Colonel and served as a pilot in the Army Air Corp in World War II, and also served during the Korean War. Cooper also flew 75 missions as the pilot of a B-52 bomber during the Vietnam War. He is joined by Al Erickson, a 96 year old Navy veteran from Wichita, and Joe Frendle, a 95 year old Army veteran from Topeka, who both served in World War II.
The veterans are enjoying a two-night stay in the nation’s capital, where the group will visit the World War II Memorial, the Korean Veterans Memorial, Iwo Jima Memorial, the Navy Memorial, Air Force Memorial and the Vietnam Memorial. Additionally, the group will tour the Lincoln Memorial, Arlington National Cemetery, Ft. McHenry, and the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.
The mission of honor flight is to transport America’s veterans to Washington, DC to visit memorials at no cost to them, with current priority to World War II veterans. After the World War II veterans, efforts focus on Korean War veterans followed by Vietnam War veterans. Guardians, who pay their own travel expenses, accompany veterans to ensure safe travel. Contributions from the public provide funding for the trips. Please visit www.kansashonorflight.org to learn more information about the trips.
Honor flights are organized by Kansas Honor Flight, Inc. The trips are made possible through a partnership involving Southwest Airlines, TSA, ABM Parking, Airport Concessionaires MSE Branded Foods and Paradies, and Wichita Airport Authority staff.
