Montana

The Big Sky Honor Flight lands in Washington D.C.

Posted: Sep 23, 2012 12:54 PM by Angela Douglas - Q2 News
Updated: Sep 23, 2012 1:04 PM

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Nearly 90 Montana World War II veterans eagerly boarded the Big Sky Honor Flight Sunday morning in Billings as they embarked on an experience of a lifetime.

In an effort to recognize and honor the veterans for their service to America, the Big Sky Honor Flight is dedicated to flying as many veterans as possible to their war memorials in Washington D.C.

MT veterans from the Billings area and eastern Montana represent more than half of the 87 veterans on the flight.

The Big Sky Honor Flight landed at Dulles International Airport in Washington D.C. at about 1:30 p.m. ET Sunday.

Tours of the Lincoln, Vietnam and Korean Memorials are on the agenda for Sunday afternoon. On Monday the 87 veterans will tour the WWII Memorial, along with Arlington National Cemetery and the Iwo Jima Memorial. If time allows, the veterans will also stop at the FDR Memorial.

The Big Sky Honor Flight is scheduled to arrive back in Billings at 8:30 p.m. Monday. The public is encouraged to attend the arrival to help welcome home the WWII veterans at Billings Logan Int'l Airport.

The first Big Sky Honor Flight sent approximately 90 veterans to the nation's capitol in mid-June. The September flight marks the second honor flight. Big Sky Honor Flight hopes to send three more flights next year.

If you would like to donate to help make future flights possible, visit bigskyhonorflight.org. Each flight costs approximately $150,000 in order to send the veterans free-of-charge to D.C.