Veterans visit a memorial in Washington D.C. on a past trip organized by the Flag City Honor Flight.
Photo courtesy of Flag City Honor Flight
FINDLAY — On Tuesday, Sept. 10, Flag City Honor Flight in Findlay will fly 87 veterans for free to Washington D.C. to visit war memorials.
In one day, the veterans will visit the Iwo Jima Memorial, Korean Memorial, Vietnam Memorial, WWII Memorial and Arlington National Cemetery. When the flight comes back at 8:30 p.m. Sept. 10 at 11777 W. Airport Service Road, Swanton, the public is invited to a welcome home celebration to wave flags, cheer and shake hands with the returning veterans. Doors will open at 7 p.m.
This will be the 28th time the group has organized the trip. The veterans going on the trip this time include one who received a Bronze Star with Valor; one who received a Vietnam Cross of Gallantry; three female veterans; four veterans with Air Medals, one of whom has 19 Air Medals; and six Purple Hearts.
The event is sponsored by Marathon Petroleum, and Marathon employees will accompany veterans on the trip.
“Flag City Honor Flight has been providing our area’s veterans with these extraordinary opportunities for years, and we are proud to support them in their mission,” said Ashley Goecke, an advanced community relations representative at Marathon. “Marathon and its employees are grateful to our veterans for their service to our country, and we consider it a privilege to help make these flights possible.”
Marathon will also host the 2024 Spirit of Freedom 5K on Saturday, Oct. 5, from 9 to 11 a.m. at their headquarters, 539 S. Main St., Findlay.
Flag City Honor Flight is a non-profit, volunteer-run organization dedicated to providing veterans in northwest Ohio and surrounding areas with the opportunity to visit their war memorials in Washington D.C. at no cost.
