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Honor Flight Columbus

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Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Can my wife (husband) go with me?
A: No. At the present time, we have over 8,000 World War II veterans on our national waiting list and thousands more who will apply this year. It is doubtful that we will get to every deserving veteran in time. Over 250 World War II veterans have passed away while patiently waiting their turn. Hundreds more will not live long enough to visit their precious memorial. Imagine how long the waiting list would be if we added non-veteran spouses to our waiting list. The only spouses who are permitted to go are those who are veterans themselves.

Q: I am the widow of a World War II veteran. Can I go?
A: Sadly, the answer is "no". Again, we simply do not have the resources, funding, or seating available to transport all the World War II veterans who are presently on our national waiting list. Adding spouses and widows simply isn't an option for our program at this time.

Q: How much does it cost? How much money do I need to bring?
A: The cost is FREE for World War II and terminally ill veterans. You do not need to bring any money, unless you intend to purchase souvenirs.

Q: Can my son, daughter, grandson, etc. go as a guardian?
A: Only under certain limited circumstances. Our TOP priority is the safe travel of ALL the veterans. A normal ratio is 8 veterans to 3 guardians. Who will or will not serve as a guardian, and how many guardians will be needed, is the sole responsibility of the Program Director. That decision is based upon many factors, such as:

How many disabled veterans are scheduled to go?
Of the disabled veterans going, how many will have to be physically assisted getting on and off the bus?
Which guardian applicants are most qualified? Medically trained, active duty military personnel and veterans who have previously participated in a flight are given top priority and serve as leadership members. The applicants physically capable of assisting in the lifting of World War II veterans are also a top priority. Once the director feels enough of those positions have been filled, other applicants are then considered. Again, these decisions rest solely with the Program Director.

Q: Can I make a donation to Honor Flight?
A: Honor Flight gratefully accepts donations from anyone EXCEPT World War II veterans. We feel that World War II veterans have given enough. This is our way of saying "Thank You"!

Q: How do you decide which veterans get to go?
A: Veterans are flown on a "first-come, first-served basis." Within the applicants, top priority is currently given to World War II veterans and all other veterans with terminal illness. Our second priority is to Korean War veterans.

Q: Are terminally ill World War II veterans given any special priority?
A: YES! Such veterans go to the top of the list for the next flight departing to Washington D.C. as part of our TLC Program. Not only are World War II veterans given this top priority, but any terminally ill veteran, who has never been able to visit his or her memorial, is given the same priority under our TLC Program. Please call us for more information.

Q: What if the veteran is on oxygen or will need a wheelchair?
A: WHEELCHAIRS -- About 30% of the veterans we have transported over the past three years were in wheelchairs. The motor coaches used om Washington are equipped with wheelchair lifts. If there is a possibility that a veteran may need a wheelchair during one of our trips, we ask that the make that known on their application for flight.
OXYGEN -- If the veteran requires oxygen, a prescription for the oxygen must be provided by the veteran's healthcare provider, identifying the delivery method (mask or nasal cannula), frequency (as needed or continuously), and the rate of delivery (2-3 liters per minute). Honor Flight will provide an FAA-approved oxygen concentrator for use during the trip if local oxygen equipment is not available. We also provide oxygen cylinders to be used at the memorials. Veterans on oxygen are required to have oxygen cylinders available from their home to the departure airport and also on the return from their local airport back to their homes. No oxygen cylinders are permitted to be used on the aircraft. If the veteran requires oxygen during the trip, please make that known on the flight application.

Q: How are you funded?
A: Sadly, despite our best attempts at fundraising, Honor Flight receives no national, government sponsorship. Our funding comes primarily from individuals across the country who recognize the great accomplishments and sacrifices of veterans and want them to see their memorial before it's too late. Other significant contributors have been fraternal organizations like local American Legion, VFW, Am Vets, DAV, MOPH, posts and chapters, as well as various corporations on a local level.

Our goal is to honor as many of these selfless “ordinary people who saved the world” as we can by providing them with no-cost, escorted trips to their memorial in Washington, D.C.