PORTLAND, Maine — Coordinators of Honor Flight Maine announced Thursday that 27 Maine veterans, hailing from Presque Isle to Kittery, will be taking a trip to Washington, D.C. to visit memorials built to honor their service to the nation. The Aug. 29-30, 2015 event is the fourth such trip for veterans currently living in Maine.
This year marks the 70th anniversary of the end of WWII. “Victory in Japan” or VJ Day occurred 70 years ago in August 1945. The Japanese formally surrendered Sept. 2, 1945. On that day, the nation’s fighting men and women finally realized that they would actually survive a war that took the lives of so many. On Aug. 29, Honor Flight Maine will celebrate their accomplishment with them at their long-awaited National World War II Memorial. Their trip is free thanks to generous and patriotic Mainers who contributed to this program.
Honor Flight Maine was established in March 2014 and joined the national Honor Flight Network May 1, 2014. Its mission is to get all Maine veterans of wars to see their memorials in Washington, D.C. at no cost to them.
Since 2005, when Honor Flight began nationwide, over 139,000 veterans have made the trip that these Maine veterans will be making. Many have said the trip was one of the best experiences of their lives. A recent Honor Flight veteran said “I will never forget this trip”, and another expressed “I just wish my buddies could have seen this.”
The Honor Flight network is a non-profit organization created solely to honor America’s veterans for all their sacrifices. The network is a nationwide group of non-profit organizations called hubs, including Honor Flight Maine. Honor Flight transports these veteran heroes to Washington, D.C., to visit their memorials. Top priority is given to the senior veterans, World War II survivors, along with those who may be terminally ill regardless of the campaign in which they served.
Of all the wars in recent memory, it was World War II that truly threatened the country’s existence as both a national and culturally diverse free society, and according to the Department of Veterans Affairs, an estimated 640 WWII veterans die each day. The time to express thanks to these brave men and women is running out.
This Honor Flight Maine trip will depart Aug. 29 from the Portland Jetport, fly to Baltimore and go by bus into D.C. The first stop of the day will be to visit and reflect at their WWII Memorial. They will visit the Korean, Vietnam, Marine (Iwo Jima), Air Force and Navy Memorials, along with Arlington National Cemetery to witness the “Changing of the Guard” at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, and will have the privilege of participating in the wreath laying ceremony.
Many individuals, businesses and organizations support the Honor Flight trip with transportation, financial donations and volunteer time, including “Adopt-a-Veteran” ($700) to make a veteran’s trip possible.
Honor Flight Maine is always looking for volunteers to help support their mission. For more information about becoming a volunteer or a guardian, contact the group at (207) 370-7210 or honorflightmaine.org, or contact Chairperson Laurie Sidelinger at (207) 240-1398.
