Honor Flight CAK

WWII veterans who served in the Pacific were honored at the WWII Memorial in Washington, DC. Tom Hanks and Steven Spielberg produced HBO’s 10-part series entitled THE PACIFIC and were here to pay tribute. The Honor Flight Network brought the 250 veterans to the nation’s capitol. Marrriott Hotels & Resorts hosted their stay.  Here’s video from the Marriott!

In conjunction with their new mini-series, The Pacific, HBO teamed up with the Honor Flight Network and sponsored their own flight to Washington D.C.!

Honor Flight CAK along with Honor Flights from Boston, Chicago, New York, Orlando, Baltimore and Philadelphia will join forces with HBO during our March 10th flight to Washington D.C.

HBO, in partnership with American Airlines and Marriott Hotels & Resorts, is sponsoring a special slate of Honor Flights, timed to the March 14 premiere of The Pacific. The epic, 10-part miniseries is based on the true stories of WWII Marines who fought in the Pacific Theater.

American Airlines will provide air travel for the veterans and escorts on its special yellow-ribbon 737 aircraft. HBO and Marriott Hotels & Resorts will provide accommodations at the Crystal Gateway Marriott in Arlington, VA and will host special events in support of the initiative.

On March 11 veterans will be taken to the WWII Memorial at the National Mall. They will be joined by HBO, American Airlines and Marriott executives, and members of Congress serving these veterans’ constituencies.

Click here to read the official Press Release from HBO.

We’re getting close to the final countdown for our next flight.

The following is a breakdown of the various Ohio hometowns of the WWII veterans we’re taking to Washington D.C. this Saturday, May 30:

Akron 14, Alliance 11, Amsterdam 1, Barberton 11, Beloit 1, Bolivar 1, Campbell 1, Canton 10, Copley 1, Creston 1, Cuyahoga Falls 2, Dalton 1, Dover 2, Doylestown 1, East Canton 1, East Liverpool 1, East Palestine 2, Fairlawn 2, Hanoverton 1, Hartville 1, Hiram 1, Kent 1, Louisville 1, Malvern 1, Massillon 4, Minerva 2, Navarre 1, New Philadelphia 1, North Benton 1, Norton 3, Port Allegany 1, Ravenna 4, Salem 2, Sebring 1, Stow 2, Sugarcreek 2, Tallmadge 2, Tuscarawas 1, Vienna 1, Wadsworth 4.

Here are a few more interesting statistics:

• Our oldest vets (2) are 93 years old
• We have 10 vets who are 90 or older.

Here are the various Branches of Service which will be represented and the number of WWII Vets per each branch:

• Army – 41
• Army Air Corps – 23
• Coast Guard – 1
• Marines – 3
• Merchant Marine – 1
• Navy – 39
• WAVE – 1
• Rest unknown

Click here to download a PDF of the May Flight Press Release.

NEW ITINERARY AS OF 5.29 – 1:00 P.M.

MAY 30TH ITINERARY

5:15-5:45 a.m. – Guardians register and prepare for veterans in waiting area
5:45 -6:30 – Vet check in, proceed through security w/ Guardian’s OK
6:00-6:45 – Security – pacemakers, shoes, metal, liquids
6:00-7:15 – Picture shoot – Begin boarding ASSIGNED seats
8:00-9:00 – Breakfast onboard US Airways
9:10 – Arrive at Reagan National Airport
9:15-10:00 – Exit plane, use restrooms, proceed to bus loading areas
10:15-12:00 p.m. – World War II Memorial (flag ceremony Blue bus only), tour
Lunch-11:30 – Guardian photo shoot
12:00-12:15 p.m. – Restrooms/load buses, pass snacks out on buses
12:30-1:30 – Iwo Jima Memorial- picture shoot of veteran teams
1:45-3:00 – FDR Memorial (restrooms)
3:15-5:00 – Vietnam Memorial, Korean Memorial, Lincoln Memorial
5:00-5:15 – Board buses
5:30 – Arrive at Reagan National/use restrooms lower lever
7:00-8:00 – Dinner onboard US Airways
8:10 – Arrive CAK airport

This is a tentative schedule, subject to change.

In a few months we will be taking off for our FOURTH Honor Flight to Washington D.C. The flight is scheduled for May 30, 2009 and our manifest is already full! Top priority for this flight is for WWII Veterans and veterans from any war with a terminal illness. Make sure to check back after the flight for new pictures and videos or fill out our Veterans Application to take part in future flights.