A group of local veterans embark on a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity Tuesday morning thanks to Honor Flight of West Central Florida.
Honor Flight is an organization that takes America's veterans to Washington D.C. to see the country's war monuments. Veterans pay nothing to go on this trip.
The one-day trip to our nation's capital leaves from the St. Pete-Clearwater International Airport.
The flight leaving Tuesday morning is "Mission 36" and the last flight of 2018. Seventy-three American heroes will be on this flight along with their guardians.
Here at St. Pete Clearwater International ✈️ where the last Honor Flight of the year for HF West Central FL is taking off this morning.
73 local veterans have the opportunity of a lifetime today!!@abcactionnews pic.twitter.com/Y2ecwbzHP6
— Lauren St. Germain (@LaurenWFTS) October 30, 2018
The "guardians" are people who take care of and stay with the veterans all day. Since the first honor flight with Honor Flight of West Central Florida in 2011, close to 2700 veterans have made the day trip to Washington D.C.
The flight returns to St. Pete-Clearwater International Airport Tuesday night around 8 p.m. The public is invited to a "Welcome Home" celebration at the airport to greet the veterans once they arrive and get off the plane.
People are encouraged to bring signs and flags, as well as wear red, white and blue if they plan on attending.
