Get Involved

Wheelchair Donation

Honor Flight Columbus utilizes wheelchairs to transport senior Veterans who go on day-long trips to Washington DC to visit the memorials erected in their honor. These wheelchairs have a tough job.

On each flight the chairs are loaded on and then off the chartered airplane. They are then loaded on and then off the buses at least six times as the deluxe motor coaches drive and park from airport to memorial to memorial, and then back to airport as the Veterans, their Guardians, and the wheelchairs go to see the memorials up close.

Our wheelchair maintenance team of Volunteers work hard to keep our chairs in service from flight to flight, but they do take a beating and we have a pretty high attrition rate.

Donations help keep our fleet healthy and are really important to us! Here’s what we need:

Standard, large wheeled wheelchairs that fold-up.
New, nearly new or serviceable (clean, with foot rests, good arm rests, seat and back material not torn) chairs.
Seats 16-18 inches wide and 16-17 inches deep.
Can carry a 300 pound person
Adjustable swing-away footrests, no elevating leg rests please!
Swing up arm-rests
No cushion, no seatbelt, no travel bag, no cup holders.

Frequently, long-term wheelchair users accumulate new spare parts that include arm and foot rests, hand grips and other user replaceable items. We always have need for these new items.

Please contact us 614-284-4987 or info@honorflightcmh.org to arrange a donation.

Thank you on behalf of our senior Veterans.

Honor Flight Columbus is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization under the Internal Revenue Code and donations may be tax-deductible.

wheelchair

Hero Salute

Honor Flight Columbus' mission is to fly senior Veterans to Washington DC. We know, however, that some Veterans are not able to fly to DC and these Veterans need to be honored. This is where our "Hero Salute" program comes into play.

The Honor Flight at Home - Marion, Ohio program is designed to recognize and honor any veteran that served active duty from 1941 to 1975, who has not previously gone on an Honor Flight, and cannot travel to Washington. This is a FREE program that is held every year at the Tri-Rivers Vocational School in Marion, Ohio. The Veteran does not have to live in Marion to participate!

For more information regarding the Honor Flight at Home - Marion, Ohio event, contact Margie Saull at saullgw4@yahoo.com

Honor Flight at Home - Marion, Ohio Application and Info Sheet

Honor Flight at Home - Marion, Ohio Facebook Page

Honor Flight Columbus operation staff & volunteers also attends special birthday celebrations, nursing home visits, etc., to honor our Senior Veterans. If you are interested in the Hero Salute program, please contact the HFC office - info@honorflightcmh.org.

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Sponsor a Flag or a Servicewoman

Flag: During every Mission, we present our eldest Veteran (or WWII Veteran) with a flag at the WWII Memorial. This moment during the day holds special significance for every Veteran and Volunteer as we pause to reflect on the generations who served before us, who are serving now, and who will serve this nation in the future. You can donate $150 in memory of a loved one or just for the opportunity to participate in this moment of honor and reflection. Your donation includes the certified prefolded American flag, carrying case, the opportunity to participate in the Veteran's mail call, and a card inserted with your name and/or the name of a loved one connected to your donation. After the Mission, you will receive a photograph of the Veteran receiving your donated flag. If you are interested in donating, email outreach@honorflightcmh.org

Servicewoman: We are proud to partner with the Military Women's Memorial to present our Servicewomen with a certificate recognizing their service and the registration of their story with the Memorial's Register. This is a meaningful way to record the stories of every Servicewoman who takes their Honor Flight with us. The cost of the presentation folder and certificate is $26.50. Your donation includes the certificate, presentation folder, opportunity to participate in the Veteran's mail call, and a photograph of the presentation after the Mission. If you are interested in donating, email outreach@honorflightcmh.org.

sponsor a servicewoman

Hold a Fundraising Event

We are a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. Community fundraisers, and fundraisers sponsored by churches, schools, and fraternal organizations have made it possible to take more than 8,600 Veterans from the Central Ohio area since 2007. We would be happy to talk with you about fundraising ideas and ways in which we might be able to support your event.

Please fill out the Request for Event Attendance on our Events page.

fundraising event

Be a Volunteer

Volunteer Your Time and Talent

We are a volunteer organization. We welcome anyone with a heart for honoring veterans. Please contact us if you are interested in contributing your time and talents to Honor Flight.

Volunteers are needed for everything from administrative tasks, fundraising, ground crew and guardians who accompany veterans on the trip to ensure a safe and memorable trip. Our volunteer teams are: Ground Crew Team, Hero Salute Team, In Office Prep Team, Mail Call Team, Media Team, Medical Team, Outreach Team, Parade Team, Regional Volunteer Team, Reunion Team, Veteran Ambassador Team, Veteran Call Team & Wheelchair Maintenance Team. More detailed information on each team can be found on the Volunteer Application Form below.

How to Volunteer

Volunteering for Honor Flight Columbus is easy. Start by completing and submitting an online application. Click here to access the online Volunteer Application form.

If you have any issues completing the form or need to update your volunteer profile, just let us know. We can also help with any general questions regarding volunteering for Honor Flight. Email us at volunteers@honorflightcmh.org.

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Guardians

Guardians serve a very important role for Honor Flight Columbus.

Our mission is squarely focused on the Veterans, their safety, comfort, well-being, and enjoyment of the day. To ensure every mission is a success, we are very selective in who is invited to serve as a Guardian.

First and foremost, serving as a Guardian is work. It is a LONG day, it likely will involve pushing wheelchairs, being responsible for additional tasks, managing all manner of physical and emotional challenges throughout the day. This is not a "tour" for the Guardians, it is hard work - exceptionally awesome hard work - and perhaps one of the most rewarding "work" days you will ever experience.

We have critical criteria that all of the volunteers and staff must meet in order to fly on every mission:

Able to communicate well with 2 senior Veterans and spend the day facilitating a meaningful experience for them
Able to provide for the comfort and safety of 2 senior Veterans
Contact your 2 assigned Veterans (call by the Sunday after Mission training, meet in person if they live within 50 miles of HFC office and deliver their shirts, call the day before Flight Day, and send/deliver printed photographs of their Honor Flight within 4 wks of the flight)
Able to attend Mission Training for your flight (there are no make up training sessions)
Able to lift 50 lbs and push a wheelchair holding 200lbs+
Able to brace a Veteran who may stumble on stairs or pavement
Able to load and unload wheelchairs under the bus
Able to walk 5+miles a day and stand for long periods of time
Able/willing to keep a positive attitude all day regardless of weather or other circumstances
Able to be flexible and follow instructions with a customer service-like approach to all Veterans, Volunteers, and Ops
Dedicated to the Honor Flight Columbus mission: to honor, share, and celebrate the lives of our nation’s senior Veterans
You must be younger than the 2 Veterans you serve (the average age of our current wait list as of winter 2024, is 76 years old)
By the Mission Training, you must be able to pay the Guardian Fee ($450) or request to access the Guardian Assistance Fund

New guardians & mobility support need to submit an application: Guardian & Mobility Support Application

Returning Guardians, please complete this form to update and/or opt out of the program: Current Guardian Application

Enjoy this opportunity you have to be with these American Heroes. Please give them the attention and care they so richly deserve. HFC reserves the right to refuse a guardian based on their inability to meet the expectations and requirements. The first priority will always be what's best for our veterans.

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High School Student Guardian

This program is designed for upper-level high school students attending school in one of HFC's 40 counties, to serve as Guardians on an Honor Flight. High School Students accepted into this program will complete 5 mandatory training sessions and serve as Guardians on a Flight Day. This program provides an opportunity for the next generation to honor, share, and celebrate our nation’s Veterans. Additionally, students gain experience in application and interview processes, marketable skills associated with people, logistics, and service, as well as networking opportunities. There is no financial cost for students accepted into this program. Flight Day costs are covered by HFC for all program participants.

To apply for this program for the Spring 2026 flight season, please check this page in June. Students must submit the High School Guardian Application including the required essay, along with reference information (can be a teacher, administrator, or other school personnel) . Applications will only be considered if all materials are present and received by the deadline. If you have any questions, email the Director of Outreach at outreach@honorflightcmh.org.

Program Description

Program Application

Important dates:

Fall Season 2025 application deadline: March 14, 2025
Fall Season 2025 Interviews: March-April, 2025
Fall Season 2025 Program Participant Contracts due: May 16, 2025
Fall Season 2025 Flight Day Selection Survey due: May 16, 2025
Fall Season 2025 Training Sessions:
- Session 1: June 26, 2025
- Session 2: July 17, 2025
- Session 3: Aug 14, 2025
- Session 4: two weeks before the assigned flight day
- Session 5: within one week after the assigned flight day

kroger

Shop at Kroger

Kroger Community Rewards Program Provides Money to Honor Flight Columbus. Sign up now. This does not reduce your gasoline or other Kroger perks.

Honor Flight Columbus - Organization Number 82159

All participants must sign up online to participate. You can no longer scan the barcode at the registers or service desk.

To re-enroll:

Go to www.krogercommunityrewards.com

Click Columbus, OH
Click re-enroll
Enter your email address and password
Type 82159 to find Honor Flight Columbus
Click on the circle left of the Honor Flight Columbus name.
Click on Save Changes
Verify by looking at “Community Rewards” on the next screen. Enrollment Date should show the date you re-enrolled.

To enroll for first time:
CLICK HERE FOR INSTRUCTIONS ON HOW TO SIGN UP

If you have any questions, please call 1-800-KROGERS

Our Veterans Thank You!

studentguardian