The Gingrich Foundation is pleased to announce the Honor Flight Network as its August Charity of the Month for its service to our brave veterans who fought in World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War.
In 2004, Earl Morse was a private pilot who also worked at the Veterans Administration clinic in Springfield, Ohio. He offered to fly an elderly veteran to Washington, D.C. to see the newly opened World War II Memorial. The grateful veteran accepted Morse’s offer, and the first Honor Flight was launched.
Following the inaugural flight, Morse invited other members of his aero club to assist in the endeavor. Several pilots stepped up to help, and in May 2005, the group flew 12 more World War II veterans from Ohio to Washington, D.C.
Since then, the Honor Flight Network has expanded to work with local affiliates across the country. And in 2008, it partnered with Southwest Airlines to transport larger groups of veterans. Today, the Honor Flight Network operates in 45 states and serves approximately 22,000 veterans annually.
In addition to flying veterans to war memorials, the Honor Flight Network connects veterans with volunteer guardians who accompany and assist them during the course of their visit.
To date, the Honor Flight Network has carried more than 245,000 veterans and 181,000 guardians to Washington, D.C. — an amazing accomplishment.