Thankfully, many WWII Veterans enjoyed the first Honor Flight to Washington, D.C. on Sept. 22, 2009. And Yipee! On Friday, April 16th and Friday April 23rd there are two more Honor Flights! This is for all World War II veterans and terminally ill veterans from other wars. A private plane will leave from Columbus and take them directly to Washington, D.C. at no cost to them. For more info you can go to www.wgahonorflight.org . Currently, 90 have signed up and there will be approximately 85 per flight plus guardians, medical team and a news team. There is a printable form on that website that needs to be completed and mailed in.

Understand some Baker Lions fathers enjoyed the first Honor Flight and their Baker Lions sons or daughters were amongst the escorts on the flights. Wow! If you are one of these Lions, please reply below and give us a commentary! Thanks! :>

UPDATED INFO ON THE WEST GEORGIA HONOR FLIGHT!

West Georgia Honor Flight (www.wgahonorflight.org) exists to honor America’s veterans for all their sacrifices.  Our goal is to fly WWII veteran heroes from the Columbus, GA area to Washington, D.C. to reflect at their national memorials for a one day visit.  Our senior heroes will travel absolutely free.

The effort – which includes training volunteer “guardians”, chartering an airline, renting accessible tour buses, wheelchairs, etc. will cost approximately $68,000 per flight.  WWII veterans fly first-come, first-served as funds are raised for each flight.  Terminally ill veterans and veterans over 90 will have top priority.  All plans are completely coordinated through the national Honor Flight Network, www.honorflight.org

Each Honor Flight carries approximately 85 veterans and 50 volunteer guardians.  The guardians help the veterans throughout the day by pushing wheelchairs, assisting with loading/unloading, delivering lunch and being a trusted companion for the veterans.  Without these volunteers we would not be able to carry out the dreams of so many veterans, enabling them to see the memorials built in their honor.  Each guardian pays $400 which covers their cost of the trip.

The Honor Flight Fund is a Designated Fund of the Community Foundation of the Chattahoochee Valley, Inc., making it possible for tax-deductible donations to be made in support of the flight.  Donations may be made to the Fund by phone at (706) 320-0027; via credit card at the Community Foundation’s website, www.cfcv.com or by sending a check to: The West Georgia Honor Flight Fund

                              c/o The Community Foundation of the Chattahoochee Valley, Inc.

                              1340 13^th Street

                              Columbus, GA 31901-2345

 Checks should be payable to “The West Georgia Honor Flight Fund”

 Applications for the veterans, guardians and volunteers are all still available on the website www.wgahonorflight.org 

Hello Lions,

Just received an update from Jennifer Warren Duncan '73:

"Update about the West GA Honor flight:  Both flights in April are full!  We still would like for WWII veterans and volunteer guardians to continue to turn in applications because we will have a stand by list just in case someone needs to cancel.  Plus there will be another flight at a later date and this will get their name on the list for that flight."