Community Profile of the Month

Capitol Broadcasting Company believes one of our greatest responsibilities is supporting our community. CBC’s Community Profile is a new monthly feature on the Web – a way to inform our employees and the public about the work of area non-profits, and their volunteer opportunities and needs.

For July 2011, take closer look at the Triangle Flight of Honor.

Triangle Flight of Honor
http://triangleflightofhonor.com/

Mailing address:
P.O. Box 12167
Raleigh, NC 27605-2167

Phone: (919-228-TFOH (8364)

About the Triangle Flight of Honor:
The Triangle Flight of Honor is a program that flies veterans to Washington D.C. to tour the WWII memorials constructed in honor of their service, recognizing WWII veterans in the Triangle for their honor, valor and courage during World War II.

The flight, tour, and meals are provided at no cost to the veterans. The flights leave RDU airport in the morning and after visits to the WWII Memorial, the Iwo Jima Memorial and the Arlington Cemetery, return to RDU that night for the “Heroes’ Welcome” homecoming celebration.

TFOH has completed five Flights as of May 4, 2011. They are currently planning for two Flights this fall.

History of the Flights of Honor
Triangle Flight of Honor On 29 May 2004, the World War II Memorial was dedicated to honor “The Greatest Generation.” Regrettably, today, very few of these elderly veterans have the funds, knowledge or strength to complete a trip to Washington D.C. via commercial airline, car or bus.

Our country’s “Greatest Generation” veterans are dying at a rate of 1,200 a day. That’s why this community-wide project was created. To date TFOH has flown 200 triangle-area WWII veterans to Washington and has 150 applications on hand.

Click here for a veteran application.

Upcoming Triangle Flights
Several Triangle area new car and truck dealers, in partnership with the North Carolina Automobile Dealers Association (NCADA), Capitol Broadcasting and Curtis Media, are planning to add two additional Flights of Honor this coming Fall. Flights are being planned for September 14th and October 26th.

The Fall Flights of Honor, each of which will take 100 World War II veterans to Washington DC, will bring the total to seven flights from RDU to Washington.

“We are tremendously excited about the opportunity to recognize members of the Greatest Generation”, notes John Alexander, a local truck dealer and one of the “Flight Directors” for the project. “After the three flights this past spring, we still have about 200 veterans on the waiting list to go to DC. It is a true honor to be with them in Washington.” Alexander added.

How To Help the Triangle Flight of Honor:
The Triangle Flight of Honor Flight is a volunteer organization, operated out of the goodness of peoples’ hearts. The volunteers are ordinary citizens dedicated to honoring our nations’ veterans. Groups in the community are already helping by donating and becoming sponsors. These are people like you, who want to help in whatever way they can. If you would like to help, e-mail us at Rglaser@ncada.com and tell us what you can do.

DONATE
If you would like to make a financial donation please stop into any Triangle area Bank of America branch and ask to make a donation to The Triangle Flight of Honor or mail the donation to:

Triangle Flight of Honor
P.O. Box 12167
Raleigh, NC 27605-2167
Please call 919-228-TFOH (8364) with any questions about donating.

Donations can also be accepted online here.

Triangle Flight of Honor Donations are used to provide transportation, meals, T-shirts, disposable cameras, fuel, and other necessities. TFOH needs your support to make this happen now, because in another 5-10 years, these veterans could be gone.

VOLUNTEER
Become guardian on a flight (*note: all guardian positions have been filled for the 2011 flights) or participate in a fundraising opportunity. Find out more here.

WELCOME VETS HOME
TFOH wants a huge crowd to come to the RDU Airport to welcome the veterans home after their daylong trip to the nation's capitol. Keep up to date on the latest flight dates & when and where to come here.

Read more from CBC
Capcom story: CBC & WRAL-TV Continue Support of Triangle Flight of Honor

POSTED: July 1, 2011