Veterans to be honored at American Airpower Museum reunion event in Farmingdale

Long Island heroes will be recognized at an event on Saturday, Dec. 6 at American Airpower Museum’s Hangar 3 in Farmingdale as the American Airpower Museum and Honor Flight Long Island (HFLI) host a reunion of 46 veterans who took a free ‘honor flight’ to Washington, D.C.

Veterans took a free, early-morning Southwest flight from MacArthur Airport to Washington, D.C. on Oct. 4 courtesy of HFLI, whose mission is to honor fellow Long Islanders who served in the U.S. Armed Forces by providing free one-day trips to their D.C. memorials. In between visits to their respective military memorials, veterans commiserated with fellow veterans and exchanged stories.

“This special flight included 42 Vietnam War veterans who received long overdue recognition and thanks for their service,” said HFLI president, West Point 1972 graduate and U.S. Army veteran, Bill Jones. “They were accompanied by four elder comrades, one WWII veteran and three veterans of the Korean War. What this flight really represented was a ‘Big Hug’ to all our veterans from Honor Flight, their families and supporters, who make such flights possible.” 

The veterans returned to MacArthur later that evening to be welcomed home by the Saffron United Pipe Band and hundreds of family, friends and supporters.

The Dec. 6 reunion, which takes place from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at AAM’s Hangar 3, 1230 New Highway in Farmingdale, will feature a ‘Ceremony of Honors’ during which veterans receive tribute journals full of photos from their D.C. trip, as well as free refreshments provided by HFLI. Admission for veterans, guardians and families is free. Admission for the public between 10:30 a.m. and 12 p.m. is free. After 12 p.m., regular admission is $18 for adults, $15 for seniors and veterans, $12 for children ages 3-12, and free for guests under 3.