WINDSOR LOCKS, Conn. — The Connecticut Airport Authority was proud to host 50 veterans taking part in Honor Flight Connecticut Saturday morning, according to a release from CAA.
The veterans were joined by their guardians and Honor Flight staff as they departed from Bradley International Airport and began their flight to Washington D.C.
The mission of Honor Flight Connecticut is to celebrate American veterans by inviting them for a day of honor at the country’s national memorials, its website said.
In April of 2019, Honor Flight Connecticut was formed as an official hub of the National Flight Network, allowing it to better accomplish the Honor Flight mission and serve military veterans from Connecticut, according to the website.
Honor Flight Connecticut leaves BDL for Washington D.C. on May 4
The Honor Flight Network is a national nonprofit organization that consists of independent hubs collaborating to achieve the Honor Flight mission and give veterans an opportunity to share the Washington D.C. experience with other veterans, allowing them to trade stories and experiences.
The nonprofit initially focused on America’s WWII veterans but has expanded its mission to include Korean War and Vietnam War veterans; the Honor Flight TLC program also honors veterans of any service era who are critically ill, its website said.
The Honor Flight Network is formed by over 128 hubs throughout the United States, operated by volunteers who donate their time to coordinating flights, bus trips and welcome home ceremonies.
“The common goal is to honor our nation’s heroes with the trip of a lifetime,” the Honor Flight Network website said.
On Saturday, in Windsor Locks, the team at Bradley International Airport and Southwest Airlines assisted CAA in making the journey from Connecticut to Washington D.C. a reality, ensuring that the veterans had a meaningful sendoff, the release said.
After a day of visiting the nation’s capital, the group of 50 veterans and their guardians will return to Bradley International Airport around 11 p.m. on Saturday.
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Dalton Zbierski is a digital content producer and writer at FOX61 News. He can be reached at dzbierski@FOX61.com.
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