Our newsletter is for HFC veterans and their families, guardians, volunteers, donors, and our many other supporters. If you wish to be added or removed from our newsletter list, please let us know by sending an email to info@honorflightcmh.org.
At the time of this newsletter, we have 343 veterans on our waiting list. Our fall flights have been booked. Our 2024 Flight Schedule will be announced around Christmas time. We will start booking our 2024 Spring flights in mid-January. As of Mission 124 on September 7, 2023, we have served 9,011 veterans since 2007! REMAINING FALL FLIGHTS: Mission 125: September 28, 2023 - Sponsor: OhioHealth & Grateful Americans Mission 126: October 19, 2023 - Sponsor: Ragan/McNamara Families Mission 127: November 2, 2023 - Sponsor: Battelle Mission 128: November 9, 2023 - Sponsor: Nationwide Thank you to our 2023 Spring Flight Sponsors: Vance Outdoors, Columbus Regional Airport Authority, All Life Foundation, and the City of Dublin (Washington Twp. Fire, Dublin Schools, and the Nick Rozanski Memorial Foundation.)
$123,500! Thank you to: Vance Outdoors, Inc. and their loyal customers for contributing to the Fill The Plane Campaign this year and every year!
Auto Smarts Radio for their production of the 8th Annual Obetz Car Show and for your continued support in promoting HFC!
Loyal partners Westerville Automotive, Cruisin Classics, and Columbus Pest Control Inc. for your continued support of the Vance Outdoors’ sponsorship!
Old Goats Car Club for your support and for raising money to cut Boots Longenette’s beard!
The 132 car entries for the Vance car show. Thank you for bringing your cars to the show and support HF each year!
Thank you from Honor Flight Columbus and Honor Flight Tri-State for your continued support to send our senior veterans on the trip of a lifetime. Thank you!
John Glenn International Runway 5K Run & Walk The 5th John Glenn International Airport Runway 5K Run & Walk was on Saturday, September 16. Thank you to all the participants, volunteers, spectators, and sponsors who took part and made the event possible. Thanks to all of you, the Columbus Regional Airport Authority (CRAA) Community Fund is able to donate $75,000 to sponsor a flight in 2024! The previous four races have raised over $250,000 combined - thank you CRAA!
16th Annual Honor Flight Columbus Reunion What a day we had! The 16th Annual Honor Flight Columbus Reunion was such a success at our new venue, The Ohio History Center. Thank you to our Reunion Leadership Team and our countless, loyal volunteers who made this day happen. The Veterans truly enjoyed themselves and that is what matters…it’s all about the Veterans!
Veteran Eligibility As shared in past newsletters, we have changed our veteran eligibility for our missions. Honor Flight Columbus accepts applications from veterans who are age 65 and over and who have served at least one day of full-time active duty (outside of any basic training active duty). As always, World War II, Korean War, and qualified Veterans with a terminal illness will be moved to the front of the line of the earliest flight for which they are ready, willing and able. Veteran applications, details regarding Veteran eligibility, and flight information are available on our website and/or by emailing veterans@honorflightcmh.org. Click here for our Veteran Application
Veteran Ambassador Program From time to time we receive requests to have HFC Veterans come to schools and organizations to speak about their Honor Flight and to encourage other veterans to participate. Would you be interested in being a “Veteran Ambassador” for Honor Flight Columbus? If so, please reach out to Beth Johnson, Executive Director, at beth@honorflightcmh.org or 614-284-4987.
Volunteer Opportunities Our Outreach Team has over 50 "info table" events from the middle of August to the end of November. We are in need of volunteers to be at these events promoting HFC! Running an info table is not hard work. You get to meet some incredible Veterans and share your knowledge of HFC with them and pass out info cards and Veteran applications. If you would like to be on the Outreach Team for the Fall 2023 Events, send an email to Volunteers@honorflightcmh.org for more information and the detailed listing of these events.
Regional Volunteers Are you passionate about the Mission of Honor Flight Columbus? Are you interested in becoming a part of our Regional Volunteer Program? Honor Flight Columbus serves a regional territory of 36 Ohio Counties - Athens, Belmont, Carroll, Columbiana, Coshocton, Crawford, Delaware, Fairfield, Franklin, Gallia, Guernsey, Harrison, Hocking, Holmes, Jackson, Jefferson, Knox, Lawrence, Licking, Marion, Meigs, Morgan, Morrow, Muskingum, Noble, Perry, Pickaway, Pike, Richland, Ross, Scioto, Tuscarawas, Union, Vinton, Washington, and Wyandot. We need volunteers in these counties to help with info tables at fairs and festivals, to walk in parades, and to help with other events. We also need help to find organizations within these counties that can help spread the word about HFC's mission. Honor Flight Columbus will continue to fly Veterans as long as there are Veterans who are interested in going. You can help us connect with other senior Veterans! If you would like more information, please email the office at info@honorflightcmh.org. Mail Call Solicitors Team Our Veterans LOVE the mail they receive on their flight. To have Mail Call, we need Mail Call Solicitors. These volunteers reach out to the veteran's alternate contact and give all of the information needed to have mail sent in for our veterans. There is a need for more volunteers for the Fall 2023 flights. You can also get on the list for the 2024 Flight Season. To sign up to help, email volunteers@honorflightcmh.org. Veteran Call Team Members We have a great team of Veteran Call Team members who reach out to our veterans and are the first phone call on their Honor Flight adventure. All of our flights have been booked for Fall 2023, but if you would like to get on the list for the Spring 2024 flights, send an email to veterans@honorflightcmh.org. We would like to have veterans or guardians who have been on a flight to be on the Veteran Call Team. Veteran Caretaker Program From time to time, we hear of a veteran who declines their trip because of the need to stay home because they are a caretaker of a loved one. We want to gauge interest in having a Caretaker Program where we could have pre-screened volunteers available to help where needed so that a veteran could attend their flight. If you would like more information, contact Beth Johnson - beth@honorflightcmh.org.
Connecting With Veterans We want to be able to share the HFC Mission and opportunity with every qualified Veteran and maintain relationships with our Alumni Veterans. To accomplish that goal, we have a monthly event at Motts Military Museum: **Honor Flight Day at Motts Military Museum** On the 4th Saturday of the month we will have an HFC Day at Motts Military Museum. This will be a time to come out to Motts to enjoy fellowship with other Veterans and to enjoy the museum. HFC will have an informational table set up at the museum with Veteran applications and info cards. Motts is giving a discount on admission. The cost will be $7 for anyone who mentions they are with HFC. Their normal cost is $12 for general admission and $10 for Veterans and seniors. HFC won’t be covering the cost of admission. Those coming would pay for their own admission. Dates and Times: Saturday, September 23 – 10 am to 1 pm Saturday, October 28 - 10 am to 1 pm Saturday, November 25 - 10 am to 1 pm Motts Military Museum is located in Groveport - address: 5075 S Hamilton Rd, Groveport, 43125 If you have questions regarding these events, contact the office - 614-284-4987 or info@honorflightcmh.org.
Upcoming Fundraiser We are looking for some volunteers for the "Bryant Hartman Memorial" event sponsored by the Combat Veterans Motorcycle Association 12-6. This event is on Saturday, October 7, in Cumberland, Ohio (roughly 90 miles from Columbus). Last year this event raised $25,000 for Honor Flight Columbus! If you would like more information, email the office at info@honorflightcmh.org.
Thank you for your continued support of Honor Flight Columbus!
Sincerely,
Your Honor Flight Columbus Staff
Beth Johnson, Executive Director:
Megan Jacob, Director, Veterans Operations:
Karen Melroy-Oiler, Director, Volunteer Operations:
