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October 18, 2009
Great News!!! Flight #2 will take to the air next
Saturday, October 24th, 2009.
It took over a year to raise enough funds for our inaugural flight last May. With donations from numerous
individuals, continued donations from our corporate sponsors, and an increasing number of large donations from individuals
and organizations such as the UAW Local 2209, it took about 4 months to raise funds for
flight #2.
Both corporate sponsors, Zwick & Jahn Funeral Homes in Decatur, and Depuy Orthopaedics in Warsaw have continued to support this organization.
Other fundraising efforts that moved us closer to flight this year were:
***The Monroeville Lions Club Dinner
***Peabody Retirment Community Tulip Festival
***The Shambaugh & Sons Pride Ride
***The Dennison Family Whiffle Ball Tournament
***Mike's Car Wash Ticket Fundraiser at Sam's Club
The Future of Honor Flight NEI...
There are still approximately 200 NE Indiana WWII veterans currently on our waiting list for this well earned and well
deserved flight of honor. With continued help from the NE Indiana community, we hope to be able to accomodate many of
these veterans next year. Currently, we can accomodate only 27-30 veterans on each flight. As the economy begins
to recover, our hope is that donations will increase to the point where we can serve more veterans on larger flights by next
year. Otherwise, many on our waiting list will pass away before we can invite them to visit their own memorial.
Please keep this organization in mind as you plan your charitable contributions and fundraising activities. And keep
in mind that you will likely never see a quicker return on an investment than you will when you see these heroes return home
with a smile on their face and the realization that the world still appreciates their sacrifice, and our freedom for which
they fought.
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News and Updates
May 13, 2009
Finally..........a flight of honor for 27 area WWII veterans!!!
With the help of many individuals and organizations throughout NE Indiana, including our 2 corporate
sponsors, Honor Flight NE Indiana completed its inaugural flight on May 13th.
We departed from Atlantic Aviation at Fort Wayne National Airport at 8 a.m. and landed at Dulles
Airport a little after 9. We visited the WWII Memorial, the Korean, Vietnam, and Iwo Jima Memorials. We also drove
by to see the Navy and Air Force Memorials, the Capitol Building, the Pentagon, and a brief view of the White House.
We ended the tour at Arlington National Cemetery where we had the privilege of watching the Changing of the Guard ceremony
at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. We watched the lowering of the flag and were treated to a beautiful performance
of the National Anthem by Tom Didier.
We departed Dulles around 7:30 p.m. and arrived back in Fort Wayne at about 8:45. We were greeted
by friends and family waving flags and carrying "thank you veterans" signs. As we gathered inside and prepared to depart,
volunteer guardian Jon Zwick, who was asked to bring his bugle along, brought the day to a close with a moving rendition
of Taps. An appropriate way to end a long successful day of memories and gratitude to our heroes.
Thanks to all who donated to this effort, and special thanks to DePuy Orthopaedics
and Zwick & Jahn Funeral Homes for their corporate level donations. Jonathan Zwick and Mark Jahn have also pledged continued
support and are actively working on fundraising toward the next flight!!!
We will post pictures soon.
April 24, 2009 Update
Thanks to generous contributions and the hard work of fundraising volunteers (more specifics to be
posted later).....we have finally been able to schedule an inaugural flight . This flight is scheduled May 13,
2009! Veterans and volunteers for this first flight have been notified. More details to follow.
Thank you NE Indiana!!!
April 2, 2009 Update
We have been blessed with a tremendous response to our request for volunteer guardians, and
may have enough for the first flight. We will be happy to continue to accept applications, as more volunteers will be required for future flights if not for the first flight.
At this time, donations are still needed to get this first flight off the ground.
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Freedom Is Not Free.
Please make a donation to say "Thank You"
to those who already paid the price.
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As soon as a flight is scheduled and the number of available seats confirmed, we will be contacting
veterans and volunteer guardian applicants to confirm availability and match veterans with volunteers.
There will be a guardian training session scheduled 2-4 weeks prior to flight.
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March 13, 2009
URGENT: Volunteer Recruitment News
Due to generous donations
over the past year, and with the help of the National Honor Flight Network, we have an opportunity to make our first
flight very soon. With a few more donations, and enough volunteers, we will be
able to provide this flight of honor to 80 – 85 deserving WWII veterans
from NE Indiana by the middle of May! Some have been on the waiting list for over 2 years. The youngest is over 80, and ages extend well into the 90s. This
includes only half of those already on our waiting list from this region, and the list grows daily.
We
are in need of 80 volunteer Guardians to accompany and assist the veterans when we fly to Washington. Guardians are
required to make a minimum $300 donation to cover their own expenses, which helps ensure that all other donated dollars go
directly to providing this trip for the veteran honorees. “Guardians” are volunteers who
have an interest in honoring these veterans by flying
with them to assist them throughout the day with everything from just making sure they hear what is going on....to pushing
wheelchairs, helping them on and off the plane and tour busses, preventing falls, etc.
Volunteers need to have a grateful heart for veterans and must be:
· Physically able to assist the veterans (and should be at least next generation,
as we cannot take spouses as guardians),
· Able to spend a good part of the day on their feet…a lot of walking
is involved.
· Able to cover their own cost with a $300 donation, and
· Available to fly on a weekday (tentative date is Wednesday, May 13th,
2009).
It
is a one-day charter trip out of Fort Wayne International Airport. Out early and home late. We will tour the WWII Memorial,
and as time and weather allow, also plan to visit the Korean War and Viet Nam Memorials along with Arlington Cemetery when
possible. Some of these veterans had brothers, sons, or daughters who served and died in the other wars. Many of our volunteers
are also veterans of more recent wars, which is why we try to add these other memorials to each trip. Meals, snacks, and water
bottles are provided throughout the day. It promises to be an extremely tiring and extremely rewarding day.
Volunteers and donations
are critical to the success of this program. It's a great way to say 'thank you' to a group of real heroes before it's too late. Guardian and Veteran Applications are available on our website.
Thanks for taking time to
read and consider this. Please contact us with any questions.
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