CLARKSBURG, W.Va. (WBOY) — After two years, the Clarksburg Honor Flight is finally scheduled to fly 100 veterans and dozens of their guardians to Washington, D.C. next month.
The donation of several thousand dollars will provide war veterans, including those of World War II, the Korean War and the Vietnam War, as well as terminally ill veterans, with a free flight and a free trip to the memorials erected in honor of their services in the country’s capital on September 14.
Organizers are nearing the end of preparations for this year’s flight and would like to invite the public to participate in “Welcome Home” activities when veterans return from Washington the same evening they left. The flight is scheduled to arrive no later than 8:30 p.m., and people are asked to bring banners, signs and anything else they can think of to welcome the veterans to the North Central West Virginia airport.
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“Our Vietnam veterans in particular were never welcomed back, they were spat on and insulted, but here our American heroes are coming back, for some of them this is the flight of a lifetime. They have never flown in an airplane before. They are flying to Washington DC to see the monuments and memorials that have been built in their honor,” said Billie Jo Claypool, coordinator of the Clarksburg Honor Flight.
Although plans for the flight are finally moving forward, organizers said volunteers are still needed to fill snack bags and continue preparations for next month’s flight. Flight volunteers meet every Tuesday from 2 to 6 p.m. at the Clarksburg VFW.
In addition, fundraising is already underway for next year’s flight and any additional costs that may arise this year. If you would like to contribute, you can send a donation to the following address:
Honor flight
430 West Pike St.
Clarksburg, WV 26301
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