Honor Flight announces inaugural Juneteenth event

A first-ever Juneteenth Honor Flight trip, which will celebrate African American veterans from the Atlanta area is set to take off on June 19.

The veterans will embark on a journey of remembrance and gratitude with an all-expenses-paid trip from Atlanta to the nation’s capital. There, they will be immersed in a day of visits to the World War II Memorial, Korean War Memorial, Vietnam Veterans Memorial, Arlington National Cemetery and more.

Part of the group will include a 101-year-old veteran, three Purple Heart recipients, one of whom is also a Bronze Star recipient, and four women veterans.

“For our inaugural Juneteenth event, we’re paying tribute to the unsung heroes of our nation, the Black veterans who selflessly served during America’s most pivotal war periods,” said Meredith Rosenbeck, Honor Flight Network chief executive officer. “These veterans will return home with a renewed sense of pride, reminded by a grateful nation that they truly made a difference for each of us.”

Honor Flight Network is a national nonprofit organization formed in 2005 with the mission of celebrating the nation’s veterans by inviting them to share in a day of honor at the nation’s memorials in Washington, D.C.

All honored veterans travel at no cost to them. Since 2005, Honor Flight Network has given nearly 300,000 veterans nationwide  the profound experience of visiting the nation’s war memorials.

“Many African American veterans were not only charged with defending our nation, but also had to battle various limits placed upon them by society,” said John McCaskill, Honor Flight Network board member and Civil War and American historian and military educator. “The Juneteenth Honor Flight trip will highlight the extraordinary courage and resilience of Black veterans and demonstrate gratitude for their tremendous service.”

Participation in an Honor Flight trip allows veterans to experience the monuments alongside their comrades, recounting stories and experiences and remembering those who made the ultimate sacrifice for the country.

Honor Flight Network coordinates the travel of approximately 22,000 veterans from around the country each year with the help of volunteers and generous partners.

Reach Julia LeDoux at Julia@connectingvets.com .