58 Long Island veterans set to fly to D.C. on Honor Flight’s September trip

Fifty-five Vietnam veterans and three Korean War vets will visit their memorials for free Sept. 26

Fifty-eight Long Island veterans will fly to Washington, D.C. this month to see the memorials built in their honor, courtesy of the Honor Flight Long Island.

The volunteer-run nonprofit’s fall flight takes off from Islip’s Long Island MacArthur Airport at 7:30 a.m. on Sept. 26, on a chartered Breeze airline flight. The group includes 55 Vietnam War veterans and three veterans of the Korean War.

“What this flight really represents is a ‘Big Hug’ to all our veterans from Honor Flight, their families and supporters,” said Bill Jones, president of Honor Flight Long Island and a former U.S. Army captain who graduated from West Point in 1972.

For the first time, Honor Flight was able to charter an entire plane, making the trip free for both veterans and their Guardians, organizers said. The nonprofit credited a major donation from Bowlers to Veterans Link, given by John and Anita LaSpina, owners of the Maple Family Centers bowling chain in New York and Florida.

A hero’s welcome home

The veterans are scheduled to land back on Long Island at 10 p.m., where the Saffron United Pipe Band and a crowd of family, friends and supporters will be waiting. The public is invited to join the welcome; with organizers suggesting to arrive by 9 p.m.

Veterans interested in a future flight can join the waiting list at honorflightlongisland.org. Trips are free for veterans because they are funded by donations from across Long Island.

_{Top photo: Mark Chamberlain for Honor Flight}