On Saturday, August 3, 2024, American Airpower Museum and Honor Flight Long Island will co-host a patriotic reunion of 41 Vietnam War and five Korean War veterans. On May 4, 2024, Honor Flight escorted this band of brothers on an early a.m. flight to Washington, D.C. Veterans and their Guardians visited WWII, Korean War and Vietnam War Memorials, Arlington National Cemetery for a “Changing of the Guard,” plus took a Washington, D.C. bus tour. They returned to MacArthur that evening for a raucous welcome home by the Nassau County Fire Fighters Pipe and Drum Band, plus thunderous applause from hundreds of family, friends and supporters!
According to Bill Jones, HFLI President, West Point 1972 Graduate and U.S. Army veteran, “This special flight included 41 Vietnam veterans who received long overdue recognition and thanks for their military service. They were accompanied on this flight by five elder comrades, veterans of the Korean War. What this flight really represented was a ‘Big Hug’ to all our veterans from Honor Flight, their families and supporters who make such flights possible,” he said.
Jones noted that newly elected Southampton Supervisor Maria Moore served on this flight as a Guardian. “We’re proud she was on board. The Town has supported HFLI since its beginning, getting us off the ground and ensuring our success. HFLI will be forever grateful for Southampton’s support,” Jones said. He added that May 4th was historic for HFLI, since it marked the nonprofit’s over 2,000 veterans flown milestone since the group started in 2007.
Our veterans received a special honor during their May 4th visit to D.C. Despite the pouring rain, HFLI Guardian Eric Wieboldt of Merrick, belted out his original song, “Welcome Home, My Brother,” which brought tears to veterans and onlookers alike. Eric said he wrote his song “because the Vietnam veterans never received a proper welcome home. My song is an attempt to right that wrong,” he added. Eric will perform his song as a special tribute during our August 3rd reunion.
On August 3, 2024, American Airpower Museum opens at 10:30 a.m. and the reunion is from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at AAM’s Hangar 3, 1230 New Highway, Farmingdale, NY 11735 - (631) 293-6398, www.americanairpowermuseum.org. The public is encouraged to attend, applaud and cheer our veterans during a “Ceremony of Honors,” as each is presented with a personalized Tribute Journal full of photographs taken during their historic day in Washington, D.C. Members of the public arriving for the event from 10:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. may attend FREE OF CHARGE! After 12:00 p.m., regular museum admission is free for members, $15 for adults, $12 for seniors and veterans, $10 for children ages 5-12 and free for children ages 4 and under.
This great patriotic event includes speeches by HFLI President Bill Jones and AAM President and Founder Jeff Clyman. The U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary Flotilla Band will play a popular medley called the “Armed Forces Salute,” featuring six official melodies of the U.S. Armed Forces: Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air and Space Forces, and the Coast Guard. Free cake, coffee and refreshments provided by HFLI!
HFLI is accepting applications from veterans of WWII, Korea and Vietnam. Long Island veterans are encouraged to sign up by going to the website, www.honorflightlongisland.org. It’s important to submit an application, as that will ensure placement on our list. Veterans fly for free, thanks to donations from across Long Island. They are accompanied by Guardians, able-bodied volunteers who donate $400 (tax deductible) to offset their travel costs. If there is no family member to act as a guardian, HFLI has volunteers ready to step up for the privilege of escorting our heroes to their memorials. Questions? Call HFLI Secretary Jamie Bowden at (631) 702-2423 or by email at JBowden@southamptontownny.gov.
Honor Flight Long Island is one of 130 regional hubs in the national Honor Flight Network, whose mission is to honor America's World War II, Korean War, Vietnam War and in special cases of terminal illness or injury, veterans from more recent conflict eras, by providing all-expenses-paid, round-trip visits to their Washington, D.C. memorials. For more about Honor Flight Long Island: www.honorflightlongisland.org. For more on the national Honor Flight Network: honorflight.org.
American Airpower Museum’s mission is the preservation of aviation and military history to educate the public about the courage, sacrifice and heroism of our nation’s veterans, aviation pioneers and aviation industry workers. We accomplish this by preserving, displaying, and flying our operational examples of America’s legendary military aircraft, as well as through our static aircraft displays, exhibits and events. American Airpower Museum at Republic Airport - “Where History Flies!” @american_airpower_museum.