Honor Flight
After landing, the taxiing airplane may be saluted by fire trucks,[3][4] and passengers are often met by cheering crowds in DC or upon their return flight home.
[5] The network was cofounded by Earl Morse, a physician assistant and retired Air Force captain, and Jeff Miller, a small business owner and son of a WWII veteran.
After the National World War II Memorial in Washington was completed in 2004, he asked many of his veteran patients if they were going to see it, and most said yes.
"[6] Morse offered to fly with two veterans to Washington to see the memorial, and after seeing them break down and cry and graciously accept the offer, he pitched his idea to a local aeroclub of 300 private pilots at a local Air Force base, proposing that the pilots would pay for the flights for the veterans to Washington and personally escort them around the city.
In late 2005, Jeff Miller, a dry cleaning company owner in Hendersonville, North Carolina, inspired by Morse's vision, had a similar idea but on a larger scale.
The seed that Morse had planted grew to a veritable forest of volunteerism, fundraising and goodwill toward the Greatest Generation veterans, who had been too busy building their communities to demand recognition for wartime service.
On September 23 and 24 and November 4 in 2006, HonorAir flew more than 300 World War II veterans from the Asheville Regional Airport to Washington D.C., free of charge.
[6] Both Jeff Miller and Earl Morse were awarded the Presidential Citizens Medal in 2008 for their extensive work with bringing the program together.
The ceremonies typically involve a group waiting inside or outside the gate where the flight arrives, clapping and cheering as they walk in.
[17] The trips originated from Raleigh Durham International Airport and concluded with a "Heros Welcome" return with marching bands, local celebrities, and attended by thousands of family members, friends, and area residents.
This bill would direct the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) to establish a process for providing expedited and dignified passenger screening services for veterans traveling on an Honor Flight to visit war memorials built and dedicated to honor their service.
