As Memorial Day approaches, Buffalo Niagara Honor Flight is celebrating 10 years of recognizing veterans through once-in-a-lifetime trips at no cost.
The nonprofit held its most recent flight in April, in which 37 veterans were flown to Washington D.C. to view monuments erected in their honor. Over the past decade, the local Honor Flight chapter has provided trips for hundreds of veterans from across Western New York, with all expenses paid, from travel to food to overnight costs.
Throughout the trip, veterans in attendance are honored with traditional ceremonies to recognize their service, including a color guard standing in attention at the gate and a rare ceremonial plane wash. Each veteran is also given a package of appreciation filled with letters and cards from family, friends, and area school children.
Buffalo Niagara Honor Flight currently hosts veterans three times a year, with hundreds of veterans currently on their waitlist for future trips. As such, the chapter says they are looking to expand to offer even more flights for years to come.