Upcoming Austin 'Honor Flight' Celebrates Women War Veterans

AUSTIN, TEXAS — The second Honor Flight comprising a group of all women war veterans will depart from Austin on Friday for Washington, D.C. so they can visit military memorials constructed in their honor, airport officials said.

The flight from Austin-Bergstrom International Airport will transport 42 World War II, Korean and Vietnam War veterans to the nation's capital. The World War II veterans are from across Texas, while the women who served in Vietnam and Korea are from the Austin area and surrounding counties, officials noted.

The flight is Honor Flight’s 54th flight, and third for this fall of 2018.

The veterans will arrive in the ticketing area at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport at around 10 a.m. The veterans, guardians, and staff will assemble for a procession, from Gate 5 to Gate 12 around 11 a.m., according to an itinerary provided by airport officials. The procession will be led by the TSA Honor Guard and Austin Police Department Bag Pipes, officials added.

After that, Honor Flight Austin will depart Austin-Bergstrom at 12:10 p.m., and will be arriving at Ronald Reagan National Airport at 4:15 p.m. The veterans will return Saturday, Oct. 20, departing from Reagan at 3:55 p.m. and arriving in Austin at 6:25 p.m., all times local.

The flight is operated by Southwest Airlines. The Hilton Austin Airport is a corporate sponsor of Honor Flight Austin. Lunch and refreshments will be provided to veterans courtesy of ThunderCloud Subs. Trips on Honor Flight are made possible at no cost to the veterans through donations.

Honor Flight Austin is a non-profit organization created to honor veterans by transporting them to visit and reflect at their war memorials. Honor Flight Austin serves veterans residing within Bastrop, Bell, Blanco, Burnet, Caldwell, Fayette, Gillespie, Gonzales, Hays, Lee, Llano, Milam, Travis and Williamson Counties.

To support Honor Flight Austin or to learn more about the organization go to www.honorflightaustin.org.

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>>> Photo courtesy of Austin-Bergstrom International Airport