Eastern Iowa Honor Flights to Resume Operations
Two area organizations that give veterans the chance to visit the sites of the memorials of their fallen brethren at no expense to them are returning to operations.
After shutting down due to the pandemic, KWWL says that starting August 16, all honor flights will be able to take off once again. We will start with the Eastern Iowa Honor Flight schedule.
They will have scheduled takeoffs out of the Eastern Iowa Airport (CID) on September 21, October 5, and October 19. If you were scheduled for one in April, May, or September 2020, you'll be contacted by staff with your options to be first in line for one of these flights. Orientation dates will be August 22 and September 19.
The Cedar Valley Honor Flight organization has one scheduled, leaving from the Waterloo Regional Airport on September 22. Flight orientation is September 9 and again, participants scheduled for honor flights in 2020 will hear from staff about their options.
Honor flights are a solemn opportunity for veterans themselves to not only reunite with those like them who served their country and made it back but to recognize the ultimate sacrifice of those with whom they served that didn't return. When these honor flights take place, dozens if not hundreds of civilians often show up at the respective airports to greet them upon their return and to pay their respects and give thanks for their service, which we simply cannot do so enough.
KWWL says that honor flight participants, staff, volunteers, and return flight attendeess will be required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 or able to provide a negative test result within 72 hours prior to takeoff, and face coverings will be required.