APPLETON, WI (WTAQ) — Old Glory Honor Flight has announced a first-of-its-kind mission set for the fall of 2023. The Freedom to Liberty Tour: A Mission of Healing will head to New York City to visit the 9/11 Memorial, 9/11 Museum, the Freedom Tower, and the Statue of Liberty. This tour is set for September 28 through October 1, 2023.
The mission will include fifty veterans who served during the Global War on Terrorism as a means to honor and thank them for their service and to remind them that their service mattered. This mission, which is free to the veterans, will provide a meaningful opportunity for them to heal and bond with other GWOT vets.
“We’re thrilled to recognize this very deserving, special group of men and women who served during America’s longest war. We know many of these vets are hurting, so by gathering them together, sharing stories and spending quality time together, it’s our hope they’ll find meaning and heal from residual, often painful, memories,” said Diane MacDonald, Executive Director of Old Glory Honor Flight.
With this trip, MacDonald also noted that the Old Glory Honor Flight is beginning to work more closely with the Veteran’s Affairs office in order to equip the veterans with more resources they can utilize post-trip.
Ken Corry, U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs, U.S. Air Force veteran and ambassador to this mission feels the time is right.
“I work with veterans on a daily basis and they are hurting right now. We must keep working to bring down the veteran suicide rate, increase mental health awareness, and help them heal. These vets need to know that they’re never alone. I’m so proud to be working with Old Glory on this; I know it will make a difference in the lives of the veterans.”
The Old Glory Honor Flight is funded entirely through community donations, and the cost for this trip is $125 thousand. You can learn more about how to donate to the organization here.
The fifty veterans will be chosen for Freedom to Liberty Tour: A Mission of Healing by random draw. The application period runs from February 1 through February 28, 2023. Eligibility factors, including dates of service, area of deployment and residency requirements, will be listed on the Old Glory website. The application can be found at www.oldgloryhonorflight.org.
Comments