June 2011 Issue
May 20, 2011

Short Takes: Honor our veterans

Source: NYSUT United

Honor our veterans

The Honor Flight Program is asking NYSUT members to help bring World War II veterans to the World War II Memorial in Washington, D.C.

Honor Flight is completely community-supported, raising the entire cost for the veterans' travel, typically $300 per veteran. Manned by volunteers, the program will take a veteran from any area in the state to Washington, D.C.

Each World War II veteran receives round-trip airfare to Baltimore, boxed lunch and dinner, an honoree t-shirt, round-trip bus transportation from the airport to the memorial, a disposable camera, a World War II Memorial book, a visit to Arlington Cemetery and an "awesome send-off" at the local airport.

"After accompanying my father as he visited the World War II Memorial, I have made it my mission to reach out to my New York colleagues to ask that local organizations, and NYSUT, support these Honor Flights," said Lynda Snyder, a retiree from the Niskayuna Teachers Association. "Our World War II veterans are in their 80s and 90s. We lose approximately 1,000 veterans daily. The goal is to take our veterans, as soon as possible, to D.C."

All donations to the Honors Flight Program are tax deductible. To make a contribution, contact Greg Furlong at 518-366-9296 or write to him c/o Leatherstocking Flights, P.O. Box 621, Cobleskill, NY 12043.

The Honor Flights Program is part of the National Honor Flight Network. Find out more at www.HonorFlight.org.