Veteran applications pouring in for Honor Flight

OZARK — The flood of applications from World War II veterans to the Wiregrass Honor Flight board began arriving just a few days after a fundraising effort was launched to send the veterans to Washington to see the World War II Memorial for free.

There is room for 90 veterans on the initial flight, scheduled to be held in May. By the end of last week, the board had received 67 applications from veterans, prompting board chairman Bob Bunting to determine something he had thought all along.

“We’re going to need a second flight,” he said.

The board is currently working to raise $65,000 to fund the first Wiregrass Honor Flight. The Wiregrass chapter is part of a national non-profit known as Honor Flight, started in 2004 for the purpose of flying war veterans to visit the memorial of the war in which they served. Since then, more than 17,000 veterans from around the country have been flown to Washington to visit their memorials.

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For more information on how to apply or donate funds for the Wiregrass Honor Flight:
Dothan: 334-791-5749
Enterprise: 334-447-9179
Ozark: 334-774-0961
Eufaula: 334-695-1580
http://www.wiregrasshonorflight.org
http://www.honorflight.org

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The board met Monday morning, and Bunting set a fundraising goal of $120,000 with the second flight already in mind. Board members said they expected to receive many more applications from veterans in the next few days.

Because many of the veterans are infirm or wheelchair-bound, the flight requires several guardians to accompany the veterans. One guardian is required for each wheelchair-bound veteran, as well as a guardian for every two veterans who are not wheelchair-bound.

As of Monday morning, the board had received applications from only 21 potential guardians.

“We need guardians. We have to have them,” Bunting said.

Anyone can apply to be a guardian as long as they are physically capable of pushing a wheelchair. Veterans will fly for free. Guardians will be asked to pay their own way.

The board raised $16,166 in its first full week of fundraising, but will be ramping up efforts in the coming weeks.

Of the 67 veterans who have applied, 21 are from Dothan, 13 from Ozark, nine from Eufaula and seven from Enterprise. The rest are scattered throughout the Wiregrass.

The Wiregrass Honor Flight will leave May 9 from Dothan with 90 veterans and many guardians. They will arrive in Washington and be transported by bus to the World War II Memorial. A tour of Arlington National Cemetery is planned as well. If time allows, the group will visit the Vietnam and Korean War memorials.

Applications for veterans, guardians and volunteers can be picked up at the city halls and chambers of commerce in Dothan, Enterprise, Ozark and Eufaula. Applications can also be downloaded at www.wiregrasshonorflight.org.

No definitive plans have been made for a second flight. The board will make that determination after reviewing applications for the first flight.