HONOR FLIGHT LONG ISLAND TAKES 46 LONG ISLAND VETERANS TO WASHINGTON, D.C. May 2, 2026

 PRESS RELEASE                                                               FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

HONOR FLIGHT LONG ISLAND TAKES 46 LONG ISLAND VETERANS TO WASHINGTON, D.C. May 2, 2026

 Southampton, NY, April 6, 2026 — Honor Flight Long Island, the iconic volunteer-run veterans’ organization, is proud to announce that our Spring Flight to Washington, D.C. is scheduled for Saturday, May 2, 2026.  This flight will take 46 Long Island veterans to visit their military memorials, meet with service branch representatives, commiserate with fellow veterans and exchange stories.  Honor Flight’s mission is to honor fellow Long Islanders who served in the United States Armed Forces to preserve our freedoms, by providing free, one-day trips so they can visit their D.C. memorials.   

Bill Jones of Southampton, the President of Honor Flight Long Island, stated: “Our Spring Flight includes 41 Vietnam War veterans who will receive long overdue recognition and thanks for their service.  They’ll be accompanied on this flight by 5 elder comrades, veterans of WWII and the Korean War.  What this flight really represents is a ‘Big Hug’ to ALL our veterans from Honor Flight, their families and supporters, who make such flights possible,” Jones said.  Bill Jones is a U.S. Army veteran and West Point 1972 Graduate. 

Thanks to Honor Flight, these 46 veterans will take a free, early-morning Southwest flight to Washington, D.C., flight #993.  Departing from Islip MacArthur Airport at 9:20 a.m., veterans and their guardians will visit the WWII, Korean and Vietnam Memorials, Arlington National Cemetery and possibly the Air Force and Navy Memorials, plus other sites of interest. 

Welcoming our Heroes on their return home-

Veterans return to Islip that evening at 11:20 p.m., for a rousing welcome by the Nassau County Firefighters Pipes and Drums Band, plus thunderous applause from family, friends and supporters!  There is no organized ceremony, but everyone is invited to come and welcome our veterans at MacArthur.  The suggested arrival time for supporters who wish to participate, is one hour prior to the return flight #3161, so be there at 10:20 p.m.  *Please check the Southwest website in case of any delays.  Check https://www.flymacarthur.com/southwest-airlines.  

Next up is the Veterans Reunion on Saturday, August 1, 2026, 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., at the American Airpower Museum, Hangar 3, 1230 New Highway, Farmingdale, NY.  Members of the public arriving for the event from 10:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. may attend for FREE.  After 12:00 p.m., regular museum admission is $20 for adults, $15 for seniors and veterans, $10 for children ages 3-12.  (No tickets or pre-registration needed for regular admission.)  AAM members, active military/guard/reserves, FREE with ID.  For more information, contact Linda Gilbert at (516) 782-6990 or adanic2263@gmail.com.           

Come and cheer our heroes during their “Ceremony of Honors,” as each receives a personalized Tribute Journal full of photos taken during their D.C. trip.  This great patriotic event includes speeches by HFLI President Bill Jones and AAM President 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 and Space Forces, and Coast Guard.  Free refreshments for all provided by Honor Flight!

Veterans! Get on our waiting list for future Honor Flights to Washington, D.C., by clicking on www.honorflightlongisland.org and submitting your application.  You will fly for free, thanks to donations from across Long Island.  You’ll be accompanied by Guardians, able-bodied volunteers who donate $400 (tax deductible) to offset travel costs.  Honor Flight has a cohort of volunteers ready to step up for the privilege of escorting our heroes to D.C.  Any questions? Please call Jamie Bowden at (631) 702-2423 or JBowden@southamptontownny.gov. 

[Special Editors Note:  See attached file “May 2 Vets for Rob” for background on our veterans.  Contact Bill Jones for additional quotes at (631) 276-8825 or ddbeach5@gmail.com.] 

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

                  (Lincoln Memorial).

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