Office of Governor Brad Henry
State of Oklahoma
State of Oklahoma
State Capitol - Oklahoma City OK 73105
(405) 521-2342
(405) 521-2342
Gov. Henry urges support of veterans program
November 02, 2009
(Oklahoma City) Gov. Brad Henry is urging fellow Oklahomans to support a privately funded effort that helps World War II servicemen and other veterans travel to Washington, D.C., to visit the national monuments and memorials dedicated to their service.
At a State Capitol news conference today, the governor announced that Oklahoma has become an official state hub of Honor Flight Network, Inc., a national non-profit organization that raises private funds to organize and finance trips to the nation’s capital at no cost to the veteran. The hub designation, Oklahoma Honor Flights, allows the state chapter to raise funds to help pay the costs of Oklahoma veterans who are able to participate in the program.
“It’s a shame to think that many Oklahoma veterans, simply because they lack the resources, may never get to see or experience the national monuments dedicated to their service and sacrifice,” said Gov. Henry. “With the help of Oklahoma Honor Flights, we can salute their heroism and give them the chance to see their national memorials in person. We owe so much to our veterans and this is a small way to demonstrate our gratitude for their service.”
Honor Flight Network, Inc., will ultimately serve veterans of all conflicts, but its first priorities are aging World War II veterans and veterans who are terminally ill. Officials estimate that the country loses as many as 1,000 World War II veterans each day.
Since it was founded in Ohio in 2005, Honor Flight Network, Inc. has transported approximately 17,000 veterans to Washington, D.C. The organization has since expanded to 33 states including Oklahoma, and it hopes to transport an additional 25,000 veterans in 2009 alone.
Representative Gary Banz of Midwest City has led efforts to establish Oklahoma Honor Flights, a hub of the national Honor Flight Network, Inc.
“It is important for the state effort to move quickly because we have a very small window of opportunity to act,” said Banz. “Now that we have established an official hub, our next task is getting the word out and raising the private dollars necessary to take a group of Oklahoma veterans to Washington, D.C. As soon as people learn of this unique and valuable program, we are confident that individual Oklahomans and the state’s good corporate citizens will respond. It is so important to honor our veterans and communicate to future generations the sacrifice that was made on their behalf.”
Rep. Banz estimates it will cost at least $30,000 to send the first group of 35 Oklahoma veterans to Washington, D.C., to see their memorials. Money that is raised above that amount means more veterans can be taken on that first trip. He hopes the organizing committee will be able to launch the first state trip by May 2010. The waiting list already numbers more than 125.
Al Willoughby, an Oklahoma World War II veteran and retired Air Force Colonel from Midwest City, recently visited Washington, D.C., on an Honor Flight trip organized by a hub in Dallas, Texas. He encouraged all Oklahomans to support the project and stated, “It was truly one of the most rewarding and inspirational experiences of my life. It is an honor to be counted as a member of ‘The Greatest Generation’ serving the greatest country in the world.”
Honor Flight Network, Inc., and Oklahoma Honor Flights are 50l c 3 organizations. Those who wish to support the Oklahoma program can donate or volunteer by completing the appropriate form from the website www.oklahomahonorflights.org and mail it to P.O. Box 10492, Midwest City, Oklahoma 73140. Direct contact can be made by calling 405.259.9000 or by fax at 405.259.8260.
Additional detailed information about Honor Flight Network, Inc., in Springfield, Ohio can be accessed at
www.honorflight.org.
At a State Capitol news conference today, the governor announced that Oklahoma has become an official state hub of Honor Flight Network, Inc., a national non-profit organization that raises private funds to organize and finance trips to the nation’s capital at no cost to the veteran. The hub designation, Oklahoma Honor Flights, allows the state chapter to raise funds to help pay the costs of Oklahoma veterans who are able to participate in the program.
“It’s a shame to think that many Oklahoma veterans, simply because they lack the resources, may never get to see or experience the national monuments dedicated to their service and sacrifice,” said Gov. Henry. “With the help of Oklahoma Honor Flights, we can salute their heroism and give them the chance to see their national memorials in person. We owe so much to our veterans and this is a small way to demonstrate our gratitude for their service.”
Honor Flight Network, Inc., will ultimately serve veterans of all conflicts, but its first priorities are aging World War II veterans and veterans who are terminally ill. Officials estimate that the country loses as many as 1,000 World War II veterans each day.
Since it was founded in Ohio in 2005, Honor Flight Network, Inc. has transported approximately 17,000 veterans to Washington, D.C. The organization has since expanded to 33 states including Oklahoma, and it hopes to transport an additional 25,000 veterans in 2009 alone.
Representative Gary Banz of Midwest City has led efforts to establish Oklahoma Honor Flights, a hub of the national Honor Flight Network, Inc.
“It is important for the state effort to move quickly because we have a very small window of opportunity to act,” said Banz. “Now that we have established an official hub, our next task is getting the word out and raising the private dollars necessary to take a group of Oklahoma veterans to Washington, D.C. As soon as people learn of this unique and valuable program, we are confident that individual Oklahomans and the state’s good corporate citizens will respond. It is so important to honor our veterans and communicate to future generations the sacrifice that was made on their behalf.”
Rep. Banz estimates it will cost at least $30,000 to send the first group of 35 Oklahoma veterans to Washington, D.C., to see their memorials. Money that is raised above that amount means more veterans can be taken on that first trip. He hopes the organizing committee will be able to launch the first state trip by May 2010. The waiting list already numbers more than 125.
Al Willoughby, an Oklahoma World War II veteran and retired Air Force Colonel from Midwest City, recently visited Washington, D.C., on an Honor Flight trip organized by a hub in Dallas, Texas. He encouraged all Oklahomans to support the project and stated, “It was truly one of the most rewarding and inspirational experiences of my life. It is an honor to be counted as a member of ‘The Greatest Generation’ serving the greatest country in the world.”
Honor Flight Network, Inc., and Oklahoma Honor Flights are 50l c 3 organizations. Those who wish to support the Oklahoma program can donate or volunteer by completing the appropriate form from the website www.oklahomahonorflights.org and mail it to P.O. Box 10492, Midwest City, Oklahoma 73140. Direct contact can be made by calling 405.259.9000 or by fax at 405.259.8260.
Additional detailed information about Honor Flight Network, Inc., in Springfield, Ohio can be accessed at
www.honorflight.org.