Free Stars and Stripes Honor Flights for our Oldest Veterans

Stars and Stripes Honor Flight honors our oldest local veterans with one-day, all-expenses-paid trips to Washington, DC, so they can experience a day of gratitude for their service to our nation. Veterans who served in June of 1975 or earlier, in any location, are currently eligible for the trip.

Stars and Stripes Honor Flight’s Karyn Roelke described an Honor Flight as a joyful day full of honor and veteran camaraderie. “So many veterans tell us the flight finally brought them some closure and restored their pride in their service,” Roelke said.

An Honor Flight is completely free for veterans who qualify. The airfare, food, coach bus tour of Washington and special flight apparel are all included. The all-volunteer organization has flown more than 11,000 local veterans on 84 of these one-day trips since 2008. “It is an honor to give back to our veterans who sacrificed so much,” Roelke said.

Vietnam War Marine Alvin Flowers took his Honor Flight in 2019 and said the trip affected him deeply. “I feel… reborn,” said Flowers. “Finally getting that welcome home meant so much to me. Any veteran who is eligible should sign up for the trip.”

Veterans can go to FlySSHF.org to sign up, or call 262-238-7740 and ask for an application to be mailed to them. Once an application is received, most veterans receive a call to confirm their flight within about six months.

“My Honor Flight was one of the best days of my life,” Flowers said.