Canceled Eastern Iowa Honor Flight Will Take Off Next Week
The Eastern Iowa Honor Flight program takes veterans from right here in Iowa to Washington D.C. It allows them to be honored for their service and see monuments and other important sights in our nation's capital. All in the span of a single day. It is an amazing program that gives these wonderful men and women the attention and honor they deserve. Back on October 18th, honor flight #45 was all set to depart when the event had to be canceled due to mechanical issues on the plane. The flight now has a new departure date.
According to a press release, the 45th Eastern Iowa Honor Flight will now depart The Eastern Iowa Airport on November 2nd. The flight is scheduled to depart for Washington D.C. at around 7:15 a.m. and then return to Cedar Rapids at around 8:45 p.m. Veterans and their guests are asked to arrive at 5:45 a.m. on flight day. Long-term and short-term parking will be free of charge with a parking pass you can pick up at the information booth.
This honor flight will include 90 veterans. The press release states that there will be veterans from Korea, the Cold War, Vietnam, and the Iraq War. The veterans and hosts will visit World War II, Korean, and Vietnam memorials as well as a special ceremony at Arlington National Cemetary.
But perhaps the best part of the honor flight program is that the public is urged to come out to the airport and welcome all the veterans home to Iowa. Many didn't get that courtesy when they returned home the first time. There will be a military band, fire and police departments, and a grateful public saying 'thank you.'