An assembly of 81 veterans and 81 guardians is set for the inaugural Honor Flight of this year, departing to Washington, D.C., on Wednesday, May 28. The group will take off from Springfield-Branson National Airport at 4:30 a.m. and head back later that same day. Among these veterans, five were stationed during the Korean War, with the remaining 76 serving during the Vietnam era. As they prepare to embark aboard the leased Boeing 737, they’ll walk past an honor guard provided by the Willard NJROTC.
Several modifications have been made to this year’s flight compared to previous ones. Instead of landing at Reagan National Airport, the Honor Flight will now touch down at Dulles International. This adjustment ensures that the returning aircraft can leave Washington punctually. According to Flight Coordinator David Snider, the plane is anticipated to reach Springfield around 7:15 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday night. Attendees planning to join the Welcome Home celebration should plan to arrive at the Springfield airport not later than 7 p.m.
In Washington, the plane will stay on the runway as the veterans, along with the guardians and support personnel, use “people movers” to move from the airplane to the motorcoaches for their tour of the military memorials. Instead of having lunch in the park at the FDR Memorial, the meal will be provided to the group at the Lincoln Memorial. Law enforcement escorts will accompany the motorcoaches during the trip into downtown Washington and also when returning them to the airport after completing the tour. Snider believes this arrangement should help ensure they arrive back in Springfield on schedule.
Two additional Honor Flights are scheduled for later this year, with trips planned for both August and October. Veterans residing in southwestern Missouri or northwestern Arkansas who obtained an honorable discharge after serving in the military anytime between 1940 and 1975 can participate in these flights free of charge. Overseas service was not required. The accompanying guardians pay $600 each for their journey. Applications for veterans, guardians, and volunteers can be found at various locations.
honorflightoftheozarks.org
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The article initially appeared in the Springfield News-Leader.
The first Honor Flight of 2025 has undergone some scheduling adjustments with an earlier return to Springfield.
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