(Houston, Texas) The Honor Flight Network, since its founding in 2005, has flown or transported over 250,000 veterans to Washington, DC to view their monuments. In 2018, the program made 377 trips, enabling 21,659 veterans to experience camaraderie with fellow war era veterans and 18,463 assigned guardians and support teams it takes to care for and ensure that these national treasures are treated as such.HONOR FLIGHT HOUSTON “WELCOME HOME” RECEPTION (FREE TO THE PUBLIC)
Date: April 27, Saturday – Houston Honor Flight #21
Where: William P. Hobby Airport 7800 Airport Blvd., Houston, Texas 77061
Time: Reception members 6:45 pm to prepare and coordinate (Delta/Jet Blue Ticketing area)
Reception: The Honor Flight Houston veterans are expected between 7pm and 8pm
Facebook event page: www.facebook.com/events/338551303421268/
Honored Flight Houston Veterans: Gaston C. Barmore (Korea), Herbert Berkowitz (Korea), Harry Bristol (Korea), Raleigh Cunningham (Korea), Joseph DeSanto (Korea), John Dichard (Korea & Vietnam), Arquimedez Flores (Korea), Santos Flores (WWII), Jimmie Hinojosa (Korea), James Houston (Vietnam), Montgomery T. Ikner (Korea), Roy Johnson (WWII & Korea), Marvin King (WWII), Donald Martin (Korea), Aaron Mendoza, Jr. (WWII), Vernell Oldham (Korea), Frank Raynor (WWII & Korea), Bernard Ryan, Jr. (Korea), Mario Saladino (WWII), William Schulenberg (WWII & Korea), Allan Smedstad (Korea), Neland Valk (WWII), Stanley Warburton (Korea), and James Williams (Korea & Vietnam).
The Houston division has undertaken 20 flights since its founding, with 4 in 2018 touring 41 WWII Veterans, 30 Korean Veterans and 36 Vietnam Veterans.
“Every group of veterans that go on their Honor Flight is special, with unique histories and connections to advancements of our freedoms,” says Lynda Harrison, Executive Director, “It just happens that on this flight we are blessed to have one of the last known surviving Buffalo Soldiers, who is also a Master Parachute Jumper with over 100 jumps, Sergeant Major James Williams (83).”
The original Buffalo Soldiers 10th Cavalry Regiment was founded on September 21, 1866 at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. The nickname was given to the Black Cavalry by the Native Americans during the Indian Wars. On December 12, 1951 the last Buffalo Soldier units, the 27th Cavalry and 28th (Horse) Cavalry, were disbanded.
SgtMaj Williams and U.S. Army veteran, Nick Tran, bestow honors to teen Honor Flight Houston fundraiser Andrew Farrant:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=_oL_sWc7PF0 (Video 4:35)
Special thanks to the employees of Ron Carter Chevrolet, Schlumberger, American Legion Post #164, Lone Star Flight Museum, Charlie Alpha Consulting, Ken Pridgeon, and Marketing Dynamics.
To learn more about Honor Flight Houston and to make a contribution, please visit: www.HonorFlightHouston.org
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