June 7th Event Supported a “Tour of Honor” for More Than 70 Veterans to Visit Memorials Dedicated to Their Service
Grand Rapids, Michigan, June 8th, 2022 – The Gerald R. Ford International Airport Authority was joined by Mid-Michigan Honor Flight to support a “Tour of Honor” for veterans to visit memorials in Washington D.C. dedicated to their service.
This daylong event included a patriotic sendoff from community members at the Gerald R. Ford International Airport as veterans departed for Washington D.C., before returning later that evening for a welcome home reception. More than 70 veterans participated in the honor flight, accompanied by their guardians which included next-generation family members and beyond.
“The Ford International Airport is proud to participate in this event to honor our veterans,” said Lisa Carr, public safety and operations director for the Ford International Airport Authority. “It’s important that we recognize and express gratitude for their dedication and service to our country.”
The Mid-Michigan Honor Flight welcomed veterans from all over Mid-Michigan to partake in this experience. The flight included veterans from World War II, the Korean War and Vietnam War. Amongst those who participated, two of the WWII veterans were 100 years old with one of them being a Pearl Harbor survivor.
"After two years of not being able to fly, we're extremely thankful to be back," said Kathy Londo Barnes, vice president of Mid-Michigan Honor Flight. "We were able to take a larger plane and take more veterans. For this we are grateful!"
Mid-Michigan Honor Flight worked closely with American Airlines to charter a flight to transport veterans and their guardians from Ford International Airport to Washington D.C. and back.
"We have a very good relationship with American Airlines and look forward to continuing that relationship,” Londo Barnes said.
Mid-Michigan Honor Flight is a regional hub of the National Honor Flight Network. The Honor Flight Network exists to offer programs to transport veterans across the nation to see memorials dedicated to their service.
For those interested in learning more, visit www.midmichiganhonorflight.org.
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