Honor Flight Long Island, the iconic volunteer-run veterans’ organization, is proud to announce that our Spring Flight to Washington, D.C. is scheduled for Saturday, May 3, 2025. This flight will take 45 Long Island veterans to visit their military memorials, meet with service branch representatives, commiserate with fellow veterans and exchange stories. Honor Flight’s mission is to honor fellow Long Islanders who served in the United States Armed Forces to preserve our freedoms, by providing free, one-day trips so they can visit their D.C. memorials.
Bill Jones of Southampton, the President of Honor Flight Long Island, stated: “Our Spring Flight includes 31 Vietnam War veterans who will receive long overdue recognition and thanks for their service. They’ll be accompanied on this flight by 14 elder comrades, veterans of the Korean War. What this flight really represents is a ‘Big Hug’ to ALL our veterans from Honor Flight, their families and supporters, who make such flights possible,” Jones said. Bill Jones is a U.S. Army veteran and West Point 1972 Graduate.
“Honor Flight Long Island is honored to have the following Southampton Town officials on our flight who will serve as Guardians for our veterans,” Jones said. They are Ann Welker, Suffolk County Legislator, 2nd District and former Southampton Town Trustee, Theresa Kiernan, Southampton Town Tax Receiver, and Marietta Seaman, former Southampton Town Clerk. “Southampton Town has supported Honor Flight since its inception in 2007, and we are enormously grateful for its support,” he added.
A second major donation from the Hicksville Veterans Association to Honor Flight Long Island, will pay for the cost of all veterans on this flight. According to Vinny Morreale, Chairman of the Hicksville Veterans Association and a Vietnam veteran, “10 of our members were honored by an Honor Flight in the Spring of 2022 and were overwhelmed by the experience. We are so proud and delighted to sponsor this May 3rd flight for our fellow veterans,” he said.
At the request of the Association, this flight Is hereby designated In Honor of Jamie Bowden, who Is the magician who puts these flights together, and her dad, Vietnam Veteran, Gary Cunningham, USMC 1964-1968 (Jamie proudly served as her Dad’s Guardian on the Spring 2022 flight). Bill Jones said Honor Flight Long Island is humbled by this generous donation. “Thank you, Vinny and your members, this donation means a lot in our continuing mission to honor Long Island’s veterans,” Jones said.
Thanks to Honor Flight, these 45 veterans will take a free, early-morning Southwest flight to Washington, D.C. Departing from Islip MacArthur Airport at 10:50 a.m., veterans and their guardians will visit the Korean War and Vietnam War Memorials, Arlington National Cemetery for a Changing of the Guard, plus the Air Force and Iwo Jima Memorials and possibly other sites of interest.
Welcoming our Heroes on their return home-
Veterans return to Islip that evening at 10:55 p.m., for a rousing welcome by the Nassau County Firefighters Pipes and Drums Band, plus thunderous applause from family, friends and supporters! There is no organized ceremony, but everyone is invited to come and welcome our veterans at MacArthur. The suggested arrival time for supporters who wish to participate, is one hour prior to the return flight #4096, returning to Islip at 10:55 pm. So be there at 9:55 p.m. *Please check the Southwest website in case of any delays. Check https://www.flymacarthur.com/southwest-airlines.
Next up is the Veterans Reunion on Saturday, August 2, 2025, 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., at the American Airpower Museum, Hangar 3, 1230 New Highway, Farmingdale, NY. The reunion runs from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. The public is welcome to attend for FREE. AAM opens at 10:30 a.m. and everyone is encouraged to come early and enjoy the exhibits before and after the reunion. For information about AAM, call (631) 293-6398 or email www.americanairpowermuseum.org. Our great patriotic reunions are always free and open to the public!
Come and cheer our heroes during their “Ceremony of Honors,” as each receives a personalized Tribute Journal full of photos taken during their D.C. trip. This great patriotic event includes speeches by HFLI President Bill Jones and AAM President Jeff Clyman. The U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary Flotilla Band will play a popular patriotic medley known as the “Armed Forces Salute,” featuring the six official musical themes of the U.S. Armed Forces: Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air and Space Forces, and Coast Guard. Free refreshments for all provided by Honor Flight!
Veterans! Get on our waiting list for future Honor Flights to Washington, D.C., by clicking on www.honorflightlongisland.org and submitting an application. You’ll fly for free, thanks to donations from across Long Island. You’ll be accompanied by Guardians, able-bodied volunteers who donate $400 (tax deductible) to offset travel costs. Honor Flight has a cohort of volunteers ready to step up for the privilege of escorting our heroes to D.C. Any questions? Please call Jamie Bowden at (631) 702-2423 or JBowden@southamptontownny.gov.