NEWSLETTER
37 Vietnam War Veterans Receive Long Overdue Recognition and Thanks for Military Service
Farmingdale, NY,(July 10, 2023 – On Saturday, August 5, 2023, American Airpower Museum and Honor Flight Long Island will host a patriotic reunion of 37 Vietnam War, two World War II and five Korean War veterans. On April 29, 2023, Honor Flight escorted this band of brothers on an early 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,” the Air Force Memorial and Iwo Jima Memorial. They returned to Islip that evening for a raucous welcome by the Nassau County Fire Fighters Pipe and Drum Band, plus thunderous applause from hundreds of family and supporters!
According to Bill Jones, HFLI President, West Point 1972 Graduate and U.S. Army veteran, “This special flight included 37 Vietnam veterans who received long overdue recognition and thanks for their military service. They were accompanied on this flight by two WWII and five Korean War veterans. What this flight represented was a ‘Big Hug’ to all our veterans from Honor Flight, their families and supporters who make such flights possible,” he said. (For Editors: see Excel Spreadsheet “April 29 Vets for Rob” for background on the veterans.)
On August 5, 2023, 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. Admission for veterans, their guardians and families, is free. Members of the public arriving for the event from 10:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. may also 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 known as the “Armed Forces Salute,” featuring five official melodies of the U.S. Armed Forces: Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force and Coast Guard. Free refreshments for all 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.
(For Editors: The news media is cordially invited to attend and cover our patriotic Veterans’ Reunion on Saturday, August 5, 2023. Please contact Robert F. Salant, Public Affairs for American Airpower Museum and Honor Flight Long Island, to confirm your participation, (516) 328-3959, (718) 791-4758 or rsalant123@outlook.com.
Photo Caption L-R: Alvin Woods, Southampton resident and U.S. Army Vietnam veteran; Catherine Poulos, Southampton resident who served as his guardian; Bill Jones, HFLI President, Southampton resident, U.S. Army veteran and West Point 1972 Graduate. They are standing by the Vietnam Memorial during trip to Washington, D.C. on April 29, 2023.
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. The American Airpower Museum at Republic Airport - “Where History Flies!” @american_airpower_museum
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.
Contact: Robert F. Salant, Public Affairs, (516) 328-3959, (718) 791-4758 or rsalant123@outlook.com
###