The fifth and final Honor Flight of 2015 is about to depart Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport.
Seventy-two Tri-State veterans and their guardians will head to Washington D.C. Tuesday to see memorials and participate in ceremonies that honor their service to their country.
The visit will include the World War II Memorial, Korean War Memorial, Vietnam War Memorial, Iwo Jima, Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and the US Air Force Memorial and other Washington D.C. sights.
Earlier this morning, the veterans received a sendoff with bag pipes from the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Department, an Honor Guard ceremony and other special remarks in the area near the east end of the security checkpoint.
“Our goal is to honor as many veterans as we can before it is too late,” said Cheryl Popp, director of Honor Flight Tri-State. “If you want to meet the veterans — please come to the airport at 6 a.m. or be among the many locals welcoming them home at 10:15 pm the same night!”
Honor Flight Tri-State is a non-profit organization whose sole mission is to fly veterans 65 and older who served stateside or overseas to their memorials in Washington, D.C. at no cost.
The oldest veterans will fly first. All veterans traveling on this flight are from the Greater Cincinnati, Northern Kentucky and South Eastern Indiana area.
“We are honored to play a part in an event that recognizes true national heroes who bravely served our country,” said Wm.T. (Bill) Robinson III, chairman of the Kenton County Airport Board.
A total of 150 people will be on the American Airlines chartered flight.
Each veteran is accompanied by a guardian, 60% of the guardians are family and 40% of the guardians are volunteers.
Last month, the first all-female group of veterans flew on an Honor Flight out of CVG.
http://www.fox19.com/story/30302430/last-honor-flight-of-2015-departs