News : Searching for Veterans to participate in the Eastern Iowa Honor Flight

VETERANS WE WANT YOU!

FOR ONE FINAL MISSION

THE EASTERN IOWA HONOR FLIGHT IS LOOKING FOR VETERANS THAT WE CAN HONOR WITH A TRIP TO WASHINGTON, DC AT NO EXPENSE TO THE VETERAN. WHILE THERE, YOU WILL SEE THE MEMORIALS DEDICATED TO YOUR SERVICE AND SACRIFICE AND SPEND THE DAY IN THE COMPANY OF YOUR FELLOW BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN ARMS

WE HAVE TWO MORE FLIGHTS THIS YEAR: SEPTEMBER 15TH AND OCTOBER 20TH. WE PLAN ON FLYING FOUR MISSIONS IN 2016. COME FLY WITH US!!!!

COMMON QUESTIONS ABOUT FLIGHT ELIGIBILITY:

Question: Did I have to serve in combat, or serve overseas to be eligible for an Honor Flight?

ANSWER: No! Many veterans never left stateside before the war, or their service ended. If you served in the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Coast Guard or Merchant Marine, IN WHATEVER CAPACITY, OR WHATEVER LOCALE OR THEATER, you are eligible for the flight. Please complete an application and return it to us today. Please include your dates of service.

Question: What is the process for applying, and the criteria for selection?

ANSWER: Go to our website: eihonorflight.org, and download a veteran’s application form. Complete it in its entirety, and return it to the address on the form. Applications are processed in the order they are received according to the following priorities. If you do not have access to a computer then please contact us at the address below and request an application. We average about 80+ Veterans per flight.

Criteria for selection:

1. Terminal illness or medical condition requiring consideration for an expedited flight.

Must be physically able to make the trip, and generally less than one year of life remaining or medical condition advancing as attested to by the Veteran’s physician or health care provider.

2. World War II Veteran.

3. Korean Conflict Veteran

4. Vietnam Era Veteran. (Please note. We are now taking applications from Vietnam Era Veterans for our waiting list, but as of this time, have not scheduled any for a flight due to the fact that we are still working through WWII and Korean Veterans. We hope to start adding Vietnam era veterans to our flights within the near future.)

Question: My mobility is not that good or I have health issues.

ANSWER: While ultimately this is your decision to make, we want you to know that we have medical staff on each flight! If you have mobility or medical issues, please know that it does not automatically disqualify you for consideration for a flight. Please let us know on your application, and we can make a wheel chair available for your use. You do not have to spend the entire day in the wheel chair. You can walk as you are able to, and when tired, you can use the wheel chair. We also take spare wheel chairs with us on each flight, so they are available for your use if you need to take a break and get off your feet for a while.

Question: I am in good shape, do I need a guardian?

ANSWER: Yes, per the policy established by the National Honor Flight Organization, every veteran will have a guardian. If a veteran requires a wheel chair, he will be assigned one guardian (1:1 ratio). If veterans are ambulatory, then the ratio will be one guardian for 2 veterans (1:2).

We have had many experiences with veterans who have not felt they were worthy of being taken on a flight. Each and every one of you who served is worthy of this trip. We have also had many veterans who were reluctant to apply, and then when they finally did, and went on a flight, will come back to us and say “I cannot believe I waited all this time to do this.” And that is a similar response that we get from the veteran’s families. So please avail yourself of this once in a lifetime opportunity.

Sign up today. You served, you earned the right to take a flight with your fellow veterans.

Want to know more about us? Contact us. We are available for program presentations

THE EASTERN IOWA HONOR FLIGHT

P O BOX 10704

CEDAR RAPIDS, IOWA 52410

855-344-3435

easterniowahonorflight@gmail.com