PRESS RELEASE
Farmingdale, NY, July 11, 2025 – The American Airpower Museum (AAM) and Honor Flight Long Island (HFLI) will co-host a special Patriotic Reunion on Saturday, August 2, bringing together 45 veterans who participated in a free Honor Flight to Washington, D.C. earlier this year. The event will reunite these Long Island heroes—who traveled on May 3, 2025—with their families, supporters, and the public to celebrate their service and reflect on their shared experience. Thanks to Honor Flight Long Island, the veterans traveled aboard a Southwest Airlines flight from MacArthur Airport to Washington, D.C., where they visited the Korean and Vietnam War Memorials, Arlington National Cemetery for the Changing of the Guard, the Air Force Memorial, and the Lincoln Memorial. That evening, they returned to a hero’s welcome, greeted by the Nassau County Firefighters Pipes and Drums Band and thunderous applause from hundreds of family members, friends, and supporters.
“Our Spring Flight included 31 Vietnam War veterans who received long overdue recognition, accompanied by 14 elder comrades who served during the Korean War,” said Bill Jones, HFLI President, U.S. Army Captain (Ret.), and West Point Class of 1972 graduate. “This flight represented a heartfelt ‘thank you’ from our community to all who served.” The Patriotic Reunion will take place from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at AAM’s Hangar 3, located at 1230 New Highway, Farmingdale, NY. The museum opens at 10:30 a.m., and admission is free for all attending veterans, their guardians, and families. The general public is invited to attend free of charge between 10:30 a.m. and 12:00 p.m. to cheer on the veterans during a special Ceremony of Honors, where each veteran will receive a personalized Tribute Journal filled with photos from their Washington, D.C. experience. After 12:00 p.m., regular museum admission applies.
Highlights of the event include speeches from HFLI President Bill Jones and AAM President and Founder Jeff Clyman, along with a musical tribute by the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary Flotilla Band, performing the “Armed Forces Salute” featuring the anthems of all six U.S. military branches. Free refreshments will be provided courtesy of Honor Flight Long Island. HFLI is now accepting applications from veterans of World War II, Korea, and Vietnam. Interested Long Island veterans are encouraged to apply at www.honorflightlongisland.org. Veterans fly free, thanks to generous community donations. Guardians—volunteers who accompany the veterans—donate $400 (tax-deductible) to help cover travel expenses. If a veteran does not have a family member available to serve as a guardian, HFLI has trained volunteers ready to step in. For details, contact Jamie Bowden at (631) 702-2423 or [email protected].
About the Honor Flight Network
Established in 2005, the Honor Flight Network was created to honor America’s veterans by flying them to Washington, D.C. to visit the memorials dedicated to their service and sacrifice. Initially focused on World War II veterans, the organization has expanded to include veterans of the Korean and Vietnam Wars, as well as those with terminal illnesses. With over 130 hubs across the country, Honor Flight has transported more than 250,000 veterans to the nation’s capital. Since 2007, Honor Flight Long Island has flown over 2,000 local veterans to Washington, D.C. For more information, visit honorflight.org.
About the American Airpower Museum
The American Airpower Museum, located at the historic Republic Aviation site at Republic Airport in Farmingdale, NY, is dedicated to preserving the legacy of American aviation and military history. The museum features a wide array of operational aircraft and aviation artifacts, offering visitors an immersive experience into the golden age of flight. AAM is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit educational foundation chartered by the New York State Board of Regents. For museum details, call (631) 293-6398 (Wednesday through Sunday, 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.) or visit www.americanairpowermuseum.org.
