“We can't all be heroes, because somebody has to sit on the curb and applaud when they go by." ... Will Rogers

The Honor Flight Network is an all volunteer program created to honor our veterans for all they have sacrificed. Without the support of these volunteers, the network would not exist and most veterans would never be able to visit Washington, D.C. to see the memorials created in their honor.

A local chapter or hub has been formed serving Lake, Sumter, Marion, Hernando and Citrus Counties.   Volunteers are needed for virtually every aspect of the local chapter

Guardians (previously called Escorts) assist veterans during the entire Mission from preflight activities through the actual flight and then the reunion.  On flight day, the guardian assists the vet for the entire day ... from initial assembly at the departure point to ['Washington, DC and return.  A guardian works 1:1 with a veteran and may be required to push a wheel chair or assist the veteran in public restrooms.  Guardians are expected to pay their own way.  For more information on Guardians and their duties, including how to apply to be a guardian, click here

Coordinators work directly with veterans, guardians, service providers, transportation companies and airlines to make arrangements based on anticipated flight schedules.  For more information on coordinators, click here.

Admin Support provide the admin services that keep the organization moving forward

Meeting Support:  each flight includes two preflight meetings, the actual flight, a post flight debrief and a reunion.  Each event requires a place to meet, setup, refreshments, and a variety of event specific help to check in vets and guardians, pass out items, etc.  Meeting support can be a few hours helping out at a specific meeting to responsibility for a specific event.

Transportation Assistance:  each event requires that vets and guardians find their way from their home to the event location.  Most of the vets are in their late 80s and 90s and many no longer drive.  Some lack any means of flexible transportation.  Transportation volunteers provide transportation to and from an event using their personal car/van/truck

Greeters send off the veterans at the Send Off assembly point (American Legion Post 347 in Lady Lake, FL) in the morning and welcome them home at the end of the trip with a cheering reception.  For more information on Greeters, click here.

Medical Support Personnel - nurses, EMTs, paramedics, possibly doctors - are needed for the flight itself, and for medical evaluation of each veteran and guardian prior to the flight.  Medical conditions do not exclude any given veteran; evaluations are primarily for logistical purposes.

Financial Support is essential to the success of the chapter.  The cost to fly each veteran to Washington, DC and back plus ground transportation, food, the trip shirt, and other support costs is approx $500 (airfare is the largest cost and that can vary quite a bit).  The cost for a 25 vet flight is approx $12,500 plus the donations of the guardians (essentially paying their own way).  Honor Flight chapters get no federal or state support; all funding is from donations.

Satellite Managers:  Villages Honor Flight covers 5 counties in Central Florida and will eventually expand north as far as Gainesville and St. Augustine.  We wish to establish satellites in all major towns and cities to organize activities in those areas. Initially, the satellites will "spread the word" about Honor Flight   Eventually satellites could function as mini-hubs and handle some of the routine logistics associated with missions.  And finally, it may be more effective to "take the hub to the vets" and have flights organized around geographical areas.  For more on Satellites and Satellite Managers, click here

If you wish to volunteer for any duties except guardian (separate application) or greeter (no application required), click here to download a Volunteer Application.  Fill it out and send it to the person and address indicated on the application form.  For more information on Volunteers, contact us at volunteer@villageshonorflight.org or infoline@villageshonorflight.org or call us at (352) 432-1382