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Honor Flight sending 19th group of veterans to Washington, D.C.

 FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WANE) – The word success doesn’t properly describe Honor Flight Northeast Indiana.

Entering its seventh year, the 19th flight will takeoff Wednesday – sending more than fifty veterans to the nation’s capital. The veterans will be accompanied by guardians and HFNEI staff.

In all, more than 1,200 veterans have been given the opportunity to take a free trip to D.C. to see memorials built in their honor. The trip includes stops at the WWII, Korea and Vietnam memorials to name a few. The group also makes a regular stop at Arlington National Cemetery to see the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.

Veterans and guardians are provided breakfast in the morning at the 122nd Air National Guard Base. Lunch and dinner are also provided on the trip.

Flight #19 includes approximately 50 WWII veterans, roughly double the number on the previous trip. HFNEI President Bob Myer said the group had exhausted WWII applications – but had received information for additional vets to make this spring flight.

The flight will also include a married couple who served together in the Korean War. It also includes a veteran who served in WWII and Korea.

Three female veterans will attend the flight and a 98-year-old WWII veteran will also participate.

The group is expected back in Fort Wayne around 8:30 p.m. Wednesday and the public is encouraged to welcome veterans home at the main terminal at Fort Wayne International Airport. Recently, close to 1,000 people have made the trip to the airport to welcome veterans back home.

Honor Flight Northeast Indiana is a volunteer, non-profit 501(c)3 organization. 95 percent of monetary donations go directly to supporting trips to Washington. More information about Honor Flight, including how to donate, how to sign-up a veteran and how to participate as a guardian can be found on their website or Facebook page.

HFNEI will send another flight May 25th. Two more flights are scheduled for the fall.