Collier-Lee Honor Flight invites the public to attend its welcome home celebration from 9-10:30 p.m. on Sept. 29 at Southwest Florida International Airport.
More than 2,000 family members, local service members, law enforcement and well-wishers are expected at the welcome home ceremony for the veterans on the American Airlines flight returning from Washington, D.C.
Seventy-five senior veterans will be returning from a one-day trip to Washington D.C., where they will visit the WWII Memorial, the Korean War Memorial, and the Vietnam Memorial. The trip will include laying a wreath at Arlington National Cemetery. Each veteran will be accompanied by a guardian.
A volunteer has paid for their trip and ensures that every veteran has a safe, memorable, and rewarding experience. Twelve Gold Star family members, families that have lost a loved one in battle, will accompany the veterans as guardians for the day.
Two-hundred-and-twenty-five veterans will participate in a total of three Collier-Lee honor Flights in 2018. A single flight can cost more than $80,000. Support for these trips is provided by donors and volunteers and is at no cost to the veterans.
The next Collier-Lee Honor Flight will take place on Oct. 20. Veterans can apply for an Honor Flight by visiting collierleehonorflight
