June 15, 2015
The fifth Kansas Honor Flight of the year will depart from Wichita Eisenhower National Airport at 9:40 a.m. on Wednesday, carrying two World War II veterans, 26 Korean War veterans and two Vietnam War veterans to Washington, DC. One of the veterans on this trip is Lee Gaynier, a 94 year old Army nurse from Clay Center who will be accompanied by her daughter. The veterans and their guardians are flying on Southwest Airlines, a major contributor to the Kansas Honor Flight Organization.
The veterans will enjoy a two-night stay in the nation’s capital, where the group will visit the World War II Memorial, the Korean War Veteran’s Memorial, and the Vietnam Memorial Wall. In addition, they will visit the Lincoln Memorial, the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center, Arlington National Cemetery, the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, the Iwo Jima Memorial, and have a driving tour by other landmarks. Members of the state’s congressional delegation are expected to welcome the Kansas veterans.
The public is invited to participate in the festive welcome home celebration on Friday, June 19. The veterans will return on Southwest Airlines flight 31 scheduled to arrive at 11:40 a.m. 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, then Korean War Veterans and Vietnam War Veterans. Guardians, who pay their own travel expenses, accompany each veteran to ensure safe travel. Contributions from the public provide fund the trip. Please visit www.kansashonorflight.org to find more information regarding this all-expense paid trip.
The trips are made possible through the cooperation and coordination of Southwest Airlines, TSA, MSE Branded Foods, ABM Parking, and Wichita Airport Authority staff.
