SPECIAL JOINT PRESS RELEASE  FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE             

                                                                                                   Contact:  Robert F. Salant, Public Affairs, (718) 791-4758, rsalant123@outlook.com                                                                

Farmingdale, NY, November 10, 2025 – American Airpower Museum is proud to co-host with Honor Flight Long Island, the December 6th reunion of 46 veterans who took a free Honor Flight to Washington, D.C. on October 4, 2025.  These Long Island heroes visited their military memorials, commiserated with fellow veterans and exchanged stories.  Honor Flight’s mission is to honor fellow Long Islanders who served in the Armed Forces of the United States, by providing FREE one-day trips to their D.C. memorials.

Thanks to HFLI, these 46 Veterans took a free, early-morning Southwest flight from MacArthur Airport to Washington, D.C.  Veterans, their Guardians and Honor Flight officials visited World War II, Korean War and Vietnam War Memorials, Arlington National Cemetery, the National Archives and other sites.  They returned to MacArthur later that evening for a rousing welcome home by the Saffron United Pipe Band, plus thunderous applause from hundreds of family, friends and supporters!

According to Bill Jones, HFLI President, West Point 1972 Graduate and U.S. Army Veteran, “This special flight included 42 Vietnam War Veterans who received long overdue recognition and thanks for their service,” Jones said.  “They were accompanied by 4 elder comrades, 1 WWII veteran and 3 veterans of the Korean War.  What this flight really represented was a ‘Big Hug’ to all our veterans from Honor Flight, their families and supporters, who make such flights possible,” Jones added.  

The December 6th reunion is 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. at AAM’s Hangar 3, 1230 New Highway, Farmingdale.  Admission for veterans, Guardians and families is FREE.  The public can attend FREE if they arrive from 10:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.  After 12:00 p.m., regular admission is $18 for adults, $15 for seniors and veterans, $12 for children ages 3-12, under 3 for FREE.  AAM members, active military/guard/reserves, FREE with ID.  Contact Linda Gilbert, (516) 782-6990, adanic2263@gmail.com for more information.       

Come and cheer our veterans during the “Ceremony of Honors,” as they receive Tribute Journals full of photos from their D.C. trip.  This great patriotic event includes speeches by HFLI President Bill Jones and AAM President and Founder Jeff Clyman.  The U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary Flotilla Band will play a popular patriotic medley known as the “Armed Forces Salute,” featuring the six official musical themes of the U.S. Armed Forces:  Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, Space Force and Coast Guard.  In addition, long-time Honor Flight Guardian Eric Wieboldt of Merrick will belt out his original song, “Welcome Home, My Brother,” which has brought tears to veterans and onlookers alike.  Eric wrote his song “because Vietnam Veterans never received a proper welcome home.”  Plus, FREE refreshments for all provided by HFLI!

Veterans! Get on our waiting list for future Honor Flights to Washington, D.C., by clicking on www.honorflightlongisland.org and submitting an application.  It’s important to submit an application, as that will guarantee placement on our list.  Veterans fly for free, thanks to donations from across Long Island.  They are accompanied by Guardians, able-bodied volunteers who donate $400 (tax deductible) to offset travel costs.  If there is no family member or friend to act as Guardian, HFLI has volunteers ready to step up for the privilege of escorting our heroes to their memorials.  Questions?  Call Jamie Bowden at (631) 702-2423 or JBowden@southamptontownny.gov 

Photo Caption:  Photo taken by HFLI Photographer Mark Chamberlain 10/04/2025 in Washington, D.C.                                                           

About Honor Flight Network

The Honor Flight Network was formed in 2005 with a mission of honoring our nation’s WWII Veterans by flying them to visit the Washington, D.C. WWII Memorial dedicated in 2004.  The Honor Flight Network is currently comprised of over 130 hubs throughout the country dedicated to carrying out the Honor Flight mission.  In addition to WWII Veterans, the organization now transports those who served in the Korean War, Vietnam War, later conflicts and in special cases of terminal illness or injury, veterans from more recent service eras.  Since 2005, the Honor Flight Network has taken more than 250,000 Veterans to Washington, D.C.  Since 2007, Honor Flight Long Island has flown over 2,000 veterans to Washington, D.C. to visit their military memorials.  For more information, visit honorflight.org.  

The American Airpower Museum is an aviation museum located on the landmarked former site of Republic Aviation at Republic Airport, Farmingdale, NY.  The Museum maintains a collection of aviation artifacts and an array of operational aircraft spanning the many years of the aircraft factory’s history.  The Museum is a 501(c)(3) Nonprofit Educational Foundation Chartered by the New York State Board of Regents.

American Airpower Museum at Republic Airport is Long Island’s only flying military aviation museum,

“Where History Flies”

Hangar 3, 1230 New Highway, Farmingdale, NY 11735 – (631) 293-6398

info@americanairpowermuseum.org – www.americanairpowermuseum.org

@american_airpower_museum