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HONOR FLIGHT

4/28/2017

Seventy-plus Kentucky veterans flew to Washington, D.C., April 22 as part of an honor flight. Sponsors paid for the veterans to see the memorials built/dedicated to them. They left from Blue Grass Airport in Lexington Saturday morning.

State Sen. Ralph Alvarado was on hand, serving on the flight’s medical team. Most of the veterans, according to media reports, served in World War II and the Korean War. The veterans received a large welcome at the airport when they returned Saturday evening.

Sheryl King of Mt. Sterling was James Wheeler’s guardian on the honor flight. She is pictured at left with Wheeler. Some other Mt. Sterling residents were on hand to welcome the veterans home as well.

According to the Honor Flight Kentucky site, HFK is one of 130 plus non-profit charitable chapters located in 42 states that comprise the Honor Flight Network. Flying veterans to see memorials dedicated to them is important, the organization says, because “Our nation is losing more than 1,500 World War II veterans and more than 500 Korean War veterans each and every day. Our goal is to get as many of these brave heroes from central, eastern, and southern Kentucky to see their memorials before they pass away.”

More than 250 veterans are on a waiting list for flights next year.
“It is truly an honor to have been chosen to help. I have the utmost respect for the board members and, of course, the veterans,” King told the Advocate.

King serves as Montgomery County’s ambassador. If anyone knows a veteran who would like to apply for the program, they can contact her at 498-2211.