“Space available on HonorAir Knoxville flight”

Space available on HonorAir Knoxville flight

Posted: 12 Aug 2010 10:01 AM PDT

Published: 12:58 PM, 08/12/2010

Source: The Newport Plain Talk

Prestige Cleaners announced space is still available for veterans interested in going on the seventh HonorAir Knoxville flight October 6. The program honors East Tennessee World War II veterans who have not seen the World War II Memorial by taking them on an all expense paid trip to see the Memorial built in their honor.

According to Eddie Mannis, president of Prestige Cleaners, "Sixteen million Americans served during World War II. Now there are probably just a little more than 2.5 million still alive. However, we are losing them at a rate of anywhere from l,200 to l,500 a day. So it is somewhat urgent that we take as many as possible to see the memorial that was built to thank them for their service and to mourn the more than 400,000 war dead who will never see it."

The chartered USAirways flight will depart at approximately 9:00 a.m. from McGee Tyson Airport and land at. Reagan National Airport. Buses will transport the veterans and escorts to the World War II Memorial. The group will tour other monuments in the Washington, D.C., area including the Vietnam and Korean War Memorials, the Air Force Memorial Arlington National Cemetery and the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. Box lunches will be served. The flight will arrive back at McGee Tyson Airport around 8 p.m.

Veterans interested in taking a trip with HonorAir should call 865-938-7707 or visit www.honorairknoxville.com and download a veteran application. The flight accommodates l27 veterans. There is no cost to veterans. Wheelchairs are provided for veterans who are unable to walk long distances. Reservations will be made on a first-come-first-served basis. If the response exceeds the allotted space veterans will be placed on a waiting list for a future flight.

Although Prestige Cleaners is the presenting sponsor and coordinator of the project, the company welcomes other individuals and organizations who would like to support this special program to honor East Tennessee veterans. Each flight costs approximately $500 per veteran.

Prestige pays all administrative costs for the program so every dollar donated is applied directly to the cost of the flight. Checks should be made out to Rotary Foundation of Knoxville, a 501 (c) (3) organization and mailed to Rotary Foundation of Knoxville, 625 Market Street, Suite 1400, Knoxville, TN 37902. Donations made also be made via PayPal on the HonorAir website.

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