Austin’s Mayor Leffingwell will fly with Honor Flight Austin to honor 50 World War II Veterans, October 9 and 10th.
AUSTIN, TX– 50 more local WWII Veterans are going on another mission; they are going to Washington, D.C. with Honor Flight Austin on October 9th and 10th, and the Mayor of Austin, Lee Leffingwell, will show his support for their service by joining them. Mayor Leffingwell, a Vietnam Navy Veteran will also be speaking to the WWII Veterans in attendance and honoring the memory of those Veterans that could not be present.
Allen Bergeron, Chairman of Honor Flight Austin, emphasized the need to honor our World War II Veterans who are now in their 80’s and 90’s, “We want our veterans to see their national memorial and to know that their legacy will not be forgotten.” The 50 WWII veterans that are flying with Honor Flight Austin will be honored throughout the trip including a dinner where Mayor Leffingwell will speak.
The Veterans will start their trip with a ceremony Tuesday morning at the Hilton Austin Airport Hotel at 8:00AM where they will be honored by Mayor Leffingwell, supporters within their community and those still serving in our Armed Forces. After the ceremony at the Hilton they will be transported to ABIA for their departure. Their flight leaves at 12:25PM. Once in Washington D.C. the Veterans will visit the World War II Memorial, the Iwo Jima Memorial, the Korean War Veterans Memorial, Lincoln Memorial and the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. Many of the WWII Veterans will fly not only for themselves but to pay tribute to those that were lost during the war. Upon returning, the Veterans will again be honored by a welcome home from those who avidly support them at the Austin-Bergstrom International Airport on Wednesday October 10th at 7:30PM in the baggage claim area.
Honor Flight Austin is commited to sending every single veteran that is willing and able to get on a plane to visit their memorial. Honor flight’s philosophy is that since America felt it important to build a memorial to the service and ultimate sacrifice of her veterans, it is equally important that they actually get to visit and experience their memorial. .
Honor Flight Austin will continue to honor and reach out to those veterans living in Travis, Williamson, Hays, Bastrop and Caldwell counties to share their service with their local WWII Veterans. For more information and to support Honor Flight Austin visit: www.honorflightaustin.org
