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May 15, 2008
Daytona Beach International Airport
Vickie Pleus, Community Information Manager
(386) 801-8303Volusia Honor Air
Capt. Dave Brannon, Volusia County Sheriff’s Office
(386) 547-5479100 WWII veterans to travel from DBIA to Washington, D.C., May 17 in honor of their service
What:
100 World War II veterans and 48 guardians will board a charter plane for Washington, D.C., early May 17. The veterans will experience the national memorials of their fallen comrades as part of the Volusia Honor Air program - the first such program in Central Florida.When: The veterans will arrive at Daytona Beach International Airport (DBIA) at 5 a.m. A US Airways charter will depart DBIA for Reagan National Airport at 6:28 a.m. Saturday, May 17, returning to Daytona Beach at 9:02 p.m.
Why: According to its Web site, www.volusiahonorair.org, \the mission of Volusia Honor Air is to extend appreciation and gratefulness to WWII heroes for their bravery and sacrifice. It aims to escort as many ambulatory World War II veterans as possible to the new World War II Memorial in Washington, D.C., at no cost to the veterans. The escorts, called guardians, pay for their own transportation and lunch.
More details: The three Rotary Clubs in DeLand are organizing the event. While at the nation’s capital, the veterans will tour the WWII Memorial,
Korean War Memorial, Vietnam Wall and the Tomb of the Unknowns, time permitting. The group also will lunch with U.S. Rep. John Mica.
The Volusia County Sheriff’s Office (VCSO) honor guard will welcome the group at DBIA. Volusia County Council Vice Chair Joie Alexander, Volusia County Sheriff Ben Johnson, and several other VCSO employees will be guardians on board. Volusia County Fire Services will send off the plane with a water salute.
Editor’s note: There are three photo/video opportunities and one interviewing opportunity for this event. News media should arrive in the DBIA second floor public area (near the Subway Restaurant) by 5 a.m. They then will be escorted to the veterans’ reception room and have a brief opportunity to interview veterans after speakers address the group. News media then will be escorted to the charter plane to acquire video/photos of the veterans boarding the aircraft. A water salute from Volusia County Fire services will send off the group.
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