FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Honor Flight for WWII Veterans Plans 747 Flight
Juneau — January 20, 2010—Stars and Stripes Honor Flight is launching “Operation Resolve.” The mission: fly a 747 with at least 300 southeastern Wisconsin World War II veterans to Washington DC to visit their memorial. The tentative fly date is May 2, 2010.
“Our wait list is 500 (25 from Dodge County) and growing. In order to make a significant impact this year, our board felt we had no choice but to embark on this ambitious project,” stated Mark Grams, Vice President of Stars and Stripes Honor Flight. “During our first year, Stars and Stripes Honor Flight has funded 5 flights transporting 378 local veterans (45 from Dodge County) to visit the World War II Memorial free of charge. Operation Resolve will allow us to practically triple our efforts to date in just one flight. The need is urgent. World War II veterans are dying at the rate of 900 a day in this country.”
The fundraising goal for Operation Resolve is $250,000. To accomplish this goal, Stars and Stripes Honor Flight has partnered with Newsradio 620 WTMJ, Fields Automotive Group, and Kaerek Homes. Through this alliance and the support of the local communities, we hope to have the necessary funds in place for a spring fight. A 747 holds just over 400 passengers. The goal is to give as many seats as possible to our World War II veterans. The other seats would be used for guardians and medical personal. Additional guardians will meet the plane in Washington DC.
Honor Flight is a national program in 34 states with 89 hubs. Since 2005, Honor Flight has safely transported 36,000 veterans to visit the World War II Memorial in Washington DC free of charge. Stars and Stripes Honor Flight serves veterans in southeastern Wisconsin. There are four other hubs throughout Wisconsin (Lacrosse, Appleton, Madison, and Wausau).
Stars and Stripes Honor Flight is now set up to take donations online. Visit www.starsandstripeshonorflight.org and click on the “Donate Now” icon. Donors can also mail checks payable to “Stars and Stripes Honor Flight” to PO Box 636, Port Washington, WI 53074. Stars and Stripes Honor Flight is a registered 501(c) 3 charity, and all donations are tax deductible. The phone number is 262-238-7740.
Stars and Stripes Honor Flight is also seeking volunteers. Applications for volunteers and for World War II veterans interested in taking an Honor Flight to Washington DC can be found at the website. The veterans are selected to fly by the date their application was received by Honor Flight.