FORT WAYNE, Ind. (ADAMS) – Honor Flight Northeast Indiana (HFNEI) is slated to celebrate its 37th flight to Washington D.C. on Wednesday, June 8, 2022.
The June 8th Honor Flight currently consists of a total of 88 veterans: 1 WWII veteran, 18 Korean War veterans, 41 Cold War veterans and 22 Vietnam War veterans. An additional 6 veterans who served in Afghanistan, Desert Storm (or various eras) are also included. Of these veterans, 42 served in more than one era. To date, 2,701 veterans have been transported to Washington by Honor Flight Northeast Indiana, to reflect upon the memorials built in their honor.
Organizers released the following:
Ruoff Mortgage is the Full-Flight Sponsor for Flight #37. Kim Murphy, Chief Administrative Officer of Ruoff Mortgage, said, “Our sponsorship of an all-expenses paid Honor Flight trip is a small token of appreciation for the veterans who gave so much for our country. It’s a wonderful way to give them some recognition and ensure they can make that once-in-a-lifetime visit to the memorials in our nation’s capital. The volunteers that work behind the scenes are just as much heroes, who work tirelessly to ensure these trips happen”.
Flight 37 Highlights include:
-Four Female Veterans will be honored at the Women’s Memorial
-A Marine Corps Veteran and his two Marine Corps Veteran sons will be together on the flight. (Father is Jerry Lutterbeck, sons are Scott and Jeffery, all USMC Veterans)
-Army Colonel Debra Chappel will be traveling with her Air Force Veteran father, Phillip Debolt. David Debolt will be the guardian for his father and sister.
Due to construction at the airport, no welcome home festivities are permitted.
Honor Flight Northeast Indiana President, Cathy Berkshire, is excited to lead the third flight in 2022! “There is nothing better than seeing the pride and joy on the face of a Veteran who has been honored with a special day of seeing the memorials built for them and we are proud to be able to help them do it.”
