The Oklahoma Honor Flights program, which gives groups of World War II veterans complimentary trips to visit memorials in Washington, D.C., will end by the end of the year.
Only two more flights are scheduled, and no new applications will be accepted after November 1 once everyone currently on the waiting list has been accommodated, executive director Gary Banz told The Oklahoman’s Randy Ellis:
News coverage of the upcoming flights may prompt a few more requests, which the organization will try to honor through smaller charter flights or by purchasing blocks of seats on commercial flights, but it is unlikely any more large charter flights will be needed, said Banz, a Republican state representative from Midwest City. “It is a very fragile group,” Banz said, noting that 40 wheelchairs are taken on each flight, which normally carries 82 veterans, their guardians and administrative support staff.
Since the nonprofit program started in 2009, 20 flights have taken more than 1,800 World War II veterans to see the National World War II memorial that opened in 2004. It’s located on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., just to the west of the Washington Monument, on the opposite end of the Reflecting Pool from the Lincoln Memorial.
Banz, who’s also a Republican State Representative from Midwest City, said some veterans groups have discussed extending the program to Korean or Vietnam veterans. But as of right now, there are no plans to continue the program.
“Our purpose from the very beginning has been to address the WWII guys because, unless somebody acted on their behalf, they would never see the WWII memorial,” Banz said. “It was built six decades after their service and by the time it was built and dedicated in 2004, most of them were well into their retirement years and for the most part had no thoughts of traveling — especially just to go see their memorial.” Banz said Vietnam era veterans have had a much greater opportunity to see their memorial while still young enough to travel, so he has not felt the same compulsion to provide travel for them.
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