Twin Tiers Honor Flight seeks champions to send vets on trip of a lifetime

Twin Tiers Honor Flight, the region’s Honor Flight Hub through its five missions, has taken over 200 World War II, Korean, and Vietnam era veterans on a free trip to Washington, D.C. to honor their service. During the daylong trip, veterans are cheered and thanked as they tour their war memorials and see the changing of the guard at Arlington National Cemetery. Sometimes they even get to meet former United States Senator, presidential candidate, and World War II veteran Bob Dole. It’s a day that the honorees never forget and many describe as the “trip of a lifetime.”

The cost of an honor flight trip averages $70,000 and the hub is busily working on plans for Mission 6, tentatively scheduled for Nov. 11, 2017. They currently have over 70 veterans waiting to go on a trip, but funds are needed and for some veterans time may be short.  

According to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, nearly 1,900 veterans pass away each day, approximately half of which are WWII veterans. In an effort to address the needs, the hub has created their first Stars & Stripes campaign to try and garner support from area businesses. Patterned around the U.S. Flag, the hub is seeking 50 “star” level sponsors ($500), 13 “stripe” level sponsors ($1,000) and one “field of blue” level sponsor ($5,000). There is also the opportunity for an organization to sponsor an entire flag ($50,000).  

Treasurer John Fracchia stated, “Our community has been so generous to our veterans through fundraising events such as our Spaghetti Dinner and Ride For The Memories Motorcycle ride. We’re hoping through this campaign to engage more of our business community, many of whom we know are very supportive of veterans and active service members.”  

Among the businesses who have sponsored the hub and its fundraisers are Weis Markets, Tops, McGirk’s Irish Pub, Finger Lakes Harley-Davidson and Wegmans. Local foundations including the Triad Foundation, the Axtell Foundation, the Brown Charitable Trust, Chemung Canal Trust Company, and the Tompkins Charitable Gift Fund are also amongst the past donors.  

Organizations or individuals wishing to support Twin Tiers Honor Flight can do so through the organization’s website at twintiershonorflight.org. Twin Tiers Honor Flight is recognized by the IRS as a 501(c)(3) charity and registered with the charities bureaus of New York State (Registration: 44-32-54) and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania (Registration: 105768). Additionally, volunteers are welcome to help make the day a trip of a lifetime for the veterans.