Honor flight planned for April

DECATUR -- This country owes a debt of gratitude to the many military veterans who sacrificed so much in the defense of the freedoms we enjoy today. One group in Oklahoma and Arkansas is working on plans to give a little back to these veterans.

The Oklahoma and Arkansas Honor Flight team is currently working on plans to fly veterans of World War II and Korea to Washington, D.C., to visit the many memorials set up in their honor.

According to the Honor Flight website, www.honorflight.org, "Honor Flight Network is a non-profit organization created solely to honor America's veterans for all their sacrifices. We transport our heroes to Washington, D.C., to visit and reflect at their memorials. Top priority is given to the senior veterans -- World War II survivors, along with those other veterans who may be terminally ill."

The first Honor Flight took off from Northwest Arkansas Regional Airport in May 2009. When the program ended on May 3, 2014, more than 900 veterans and their guardians made the trip to the nation's capitol. A total of 11 flights departed XNA during the five years of operation.

Rob Hopkins, along with a group in Oklahoma, is in the process of putting together an Honor Flight April 20. The early morning flight will depart for Washington, D.C., from XNA and will return later that night. Priority is given to WWII and Korean veterans, but Vietnam veterans are also welcome to apply.

Veterans interested in going on the flight may contact Beath Marsh at 918-964-0439. Guardians interested in going on this flight to accompany a veteran may contact Wayne Perego at 918-314-4353. Also, an army of volunteers will be needed to help in various areas. Applications are available by mail or from the Honor Flight website at oahonorflight.org.

General News on 01/27/2016