Community

Honor Flight Network thanks local war veterans with trip to Washington, D.C.

Former soldiers visit the memorials dedicated to them

06.06.18

Former U.S. President and PEC founder Lyndon B. Johnson once said, “It is on America’s fighting men that this nation must depend. Their service honors us all.”

Honor Flight Austin group in Washington, D.C.
Honor Flight veterans in Washington, D.C.
Arrow
Arrow
Veteran copies etching of a name at the Vietnam war memorial
All photographs courtesy Honor Flight Austin

Today, the Honor Flight Network returns the honor by taking U.S. veterans to visit our nation’s war memorials. On Sept. 28, the nonprofit organization will be making a special Hays County flight to Washington, D.C., for locals who served in Vietnam, Korea and World War II.

“I can honestly say, for me, it was one of the best times of my life going on this trip,” said Lenny Jasinski, Vietnam War veteran and former PEC employee. “You meet other friends from the war that you will carry on for the rest of your life, and the whole experience is just therapeutic for all of us.”

The free, two-day trip consists of a processional ceremony through the airport, a flight to Washington, D.C., a night at the Pentagon Sheraton, visits to national memorials, including war memorials, the changing of the guard at Arlington National Cemetery, plus a big welcome home.

“You see a lot of veterans get peace and closure by going on this trip,” said Dwain James, chairman of Honor Flight Network Austin. “And our goal is to make sure we get all of these veterans out here to experience this once-in-a-lifetime trip and know that we will never forget what they did for our country.”

Are you a Hays County U.S. war veteran?

Veterans at the Marine memorial in Washington, D.C.Honor Flight Network is taking locals who served in Vietnam, Korea and World War II on a free trip to Washington, D.C., this September!

  • To apply, complete the application at honorflightaustin.org/forms.
  • World War II and terminally ill veterans are top priority, and others are selected on a first-come, first-served basis. All mobility issues will
    be accommodated.
  • If you’d like to go but live outside Hays County, you can still apply for future trips.
  • If you’d like to escort a veteran, apply at honorflightaustin.org/forms.

Visit honorflightaustin.org to learn more about this nonprofit organization.