[GERALDINE]

A year or so ago there was an article in The Parade Magazine of the Sunday Daily Sun about a volunteer group called "HONOR FLIGHT" started by Earl Morse a retired Physician's Assistant and Air Force Captain from Ohio. This group of volunteers and contributors was created to provide an opportunity for all living WWII Veterans to go to Washington DC and see THEIR new Memorial. They focus primarily on WWII Vets (who are currently dying at the rate of 1,200 per DAY) but also take veterans of the Korean War and the Vietnam War who are presently terminally ill.

To read about this program...and to sign up to participate...either as a Veteran to go on this trip or to volunteer your services, go to: www.honorflight.org

I'm writing this because I know there are a lot of grateful patriotic people living here in TV and this group needs help $$$ to continue this wonderful service. They take 40 Veterans at a time from various hub cities, including Florida, and make about 8 flights a month. EVERYTHING IS FREE TO THE VETERAN, as Honor Flight feels they've already given enough through their service to our country.

If you can afford to send a donation to this organization...please go to their website and get the information on how to do this. You can do it in memory of someone or in honor of someone. They will even honor a veteran posthumously at the Memorial and you can read about how they do that on the website.

Both of my parents, who live in Michigan, are WWII Veterans and they were called today to go on the 7/26/08 flight out of Detroit, MI. I am so proud of them and sooooooo very happy for them and soooooo grateful to HONOR FLIGHT for giving them this once in a lifetime opportunity.

No vet is turned down...even if they have to take them on a stretcher to the plane, on the plane, and to the Memorial...they will do it. Drs. and Nurses volunteer their time and pay their own way to accompany the veterans on this flight.

I registered my parents about a year and 1/2 ago...when I first read the article and visited the website and they were called today. If a Veteran is terminal, they are moved to the head of the list...and this is true for Korean War and Vietnam War Vets as well.

It's a WONDERFUL thing these people are doing and I pray that God will let my parents (Ages 90 and 86) complete this flight on July 26th.

Please pass the word about HONOR FLIGHT and PLEASE make a donation if you can. Talk to any clubs or organizations you belong to and maybe make a donation as a group...there's strength in numbers!!!

Like their tee-shirts say, "If you can read this, thank a teacher...If you can read this in ENGLISH...thank a VET"

GOD BLESS AMERICA & GOD BLESS ALL OF OUR VETERANS AND ALL OF OUR COURAGEOUS MEN AND WOMEN IN THE MILITARY TODAY