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The Spirit of Ed Horton: Third trip of Emerald Coast Honor Flight To Escort 103 WWII Veterans to Washington D.C. on April 1, 2009

One hundred and three WWII veterans will gather on Sunday, March 22 at 2 p.m. at the Northwest Florida Fairgrounds to meet a group of volunteers who will accompany them to Washington D.C. on the third trip of Emerald Coast Honor Flight. Veterans and volunteers will gather to get acquainted and obtain information about the April 1st flight which will depart from the Northwest Florida Regional Airport.

Emerald Coast Honor Flight is a non-profit organization honoring America’s veterans. Heroes from Escambia, Santa Rosa, Okaloosa, Walton, Washington, and Holmes counties are flown to Washington, DC to see the WWII Memorial, built in their honor for their service to our country.

Over four hundred WWII veterans from Northwest Florida are on the waiting list for future planned trips, pending the availability of donations to fund the flights. To date, seven of the veterans on the waiting list have passed away, unable to fulfill their dream of participating in this special journey. The sense of urgency is greater now more than ever. Based on recent statistics, WW II veterans are dying in the United States at the rate of 1200 per day. Emerald Coast Honor Flight is committed to doing whatever it takes to fulfill the dreams of our veterans, taking them on a journey designed to honor them for their dedication, patriotism and service to our country.

This flight, the first Emerald Coast Honor Flight to depart from Okaloosa County, is being dedicated in the spirit of Ed Horton from Fort Walton Beach, a WWII veteran who was one of the Doolittle Raiders. Horton passed away November 26, 2008 at age 92.

The creation of Emerald Coast Honor Flight was spearheaded by Congressman Jeff Miller and is staffed by a volunteer board of directors and funded through donations. Donations from the public have made it possible for over two hundred WWII veterans from the First Congressional District to participate in the journey to our nation’s capital.

The public is invited to welcome home these WWII heroes as they return from their journey to Washington D.C. on April 1st at 7 p.m. at the Northwest Florida Regional Airport. Everyone is encouraged to be waiting at the airport with American flags, homemade signs and patriotism to give these WWII veterans a “welcome home” that they will always cherish and never forget.

For more information about Emerald Coast Honor Flight, visit http://www.emeraldcoasthonorflight.com/

WSRE Honor Flight Documentary Pays Tribute to WWII Veterans
Honor Flight..A Journey of Heroes

WSRE, PBS for the Gulf Coast, has produced an original documentary in honor of the inaugural trip of Emerald Coast Honor Flight that took place on April 30, 2008. The one-hour documentary, Honor Flight...A Journey of Heroes, was produced in high definition (HD), and chronicles the journey of a group of Northwest Florida's veterans from the Second World War as they travel to Washington D.C. on the inaugural trip of Emerald Coast Honor Flight to visit the WWII Memorial erected at our nation's capital in their honor.

The WSRE original documentary features exclusive interviews with Senator Bob Dole and Congressman Jeff Miller, as well as other highlights that include the veterans' recollections of war, their experiences and reactions at the WWII Memorial, conversations with Emerald Coast Honor Flight guardians, and thoughts shared by families and friends. A wreath-laying ceremony, visits to the Korean and Vietnam Memorials, and the incredible heroes' welcome that these veterans received are all captured in this special documentary.

"It was an awesome, overwhelming, heartfelt and emotional homecoming for a group of veterans who, in the 63 years since the war ended, had never received such accolades," states documentary producer Jill Hubbs who also went on the trip. "I was moved to tears," she said.

Spearheaded by Congressman Jeff Miller, Emerald Coast Honor Flight, is a non-profit volunteer organization comprised of regional business and community leaders and active and retired military personnel. It was created to honor WWII veterans from the First Congressional District of Florida. The inaugural flight of Emerald Coast Honor Flight, took place on April 30, 2008, with 100 veterans, traveling free of charge, to see their memorial for the first time.

Update:
Special thanks to Celebrations The Florist for donating the "Emerald Coast Honor Flight" dedication wreath to be placed at the WWII Memorial by each group of veterans making the Honor Flight to Washington D.C.

What is the Honor Flight?

Emerald Coast Honor Flight is working with the Marine Corps League J.R. Spears detachment 066,  a non-profit organization, to honor America’s veterans for all their sacrifices. Veterans will fly from Escambia, Santa Rosa, Okaloosa, Walton, Washington, and  Holmes counties to Washington, D.C. to reflect at their memorials for a one day free visit. Please go to www.emeraldcoasthonorflight.com to learn more about the program. The Honor Flight National website can be see at www.honorflight.org.

What is WSRE's Involvement? http://www.honorflight.org

WSRE's cameras will be there to capture the Inaugural Flight from Northwest Florida. We are producing a documentary about the inaugural flight. Also, WSRE is collecting your stories online. We want your "Story of Honor".

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