Honor Flight announces spring schedule

PIKE COUNTY — World War II veterans are invited to take a spring flight to the Capital's war memorials.

Hudson Valley Honor Flight recently announced two trips scheduled for spring: on Saturday, April 2, from Stewart International Airport in Newburgh, N.Y.; and on Saturday, May 14, leaving from Westchester County Airport in White Plains, N.Y.

“We know there are many World War II veterans who deserve to be honored for their sacrifice to our country,” said board Chair Frank Kimler. “We encourage them to contact us and let us know of their interest. We are asking the region’s veterans organizations to reach out to us with names of veterans who would like to make this trip.”

The nonprofit Hudson Valley Honor Flight honors veterans by bringing them to Washington, D.C., to visit the World War II war memorial at no cost to the veterans. It's also a local hub of the National Honor Flight Network, which has more 100 independent non-profit hubs nationwide.

Each veteran is accompanied by a volunteer, a personal “guardian” responsible for ensuring the veteran’s trip is a memorable one. Guardians are responsible for covering the cost of their trip.

Hudson Valley Honor Flight serves veterans from Pike County in Pennsylvania; Orange, Ulster, Dutchess, Westchester, Rockland, Sullivan and Putnam counties in New York; Bergen County in New Jersey; and Fairfield County in Connecticut. Veterans from other surrounding counties will also be considered.

It flies multiple times a year out of Stewart and Westchester.

Hudson Valley Honor Flight plans to take all veterans from all other wars on future flights. Top priority is now given to World War II veterans and terminally ill veterans from other wars.

To learn more or to reserve a place, call 845-391-0076 or visit http://hvhonorflight.com.