2,000th veteran takes trip to D.C. with Stars and Stripes Honor Flight

MILWAUKEE -- 224 World War II veterans made the trip from Milwaukee to Washington D.C. Saturday, June 2nd. It was the final Stars and Stripes Honor Flight of the year, and during this trip, the 2,000th veteran got a one-day free trip to D.C. to see their memorials.

To date the Stars and Stripes Honor Flight program has taken 1,909 World War II veterans from southeastern Wisconsin to see the World War II Memorial and other memorials in Washington, D.C. The trip is completely free to veterans. Guardians pay $500 for the privilege of escorting a veteran on the trip.

A documentary film crew will be recorded Saturday's homecoming for the upcoming release of the feature length movie “Honor Flight” which will have its world premiere at “Field of Honor” on August 11 at Miller Park.

“Honor Flight” is a national program with 108 hubs in 34 states. The World War II Memorial did not open until 2004 and many veterans are unable to visit it without assistance.

According to the United States Department of Veterans Affairs, a World War II veteran dies every 90 seconds in the United States.