Farmingdale event honors Long Island Vietnam and Korean War veterans

BY Robert Salant

On Saturday, August 3, 2024, the American Airpower Museum and Honor Flight Long Island will co-host a patriotic reunion of 41 Vietnam War and five Korean War veterans. The reunion will be held from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. in AAM’s Hangar 3, 1230 New Highway in Farmingdale, and will mark the first time all of the veterans have been together since their sponsored flight to Washington on May 4.

On May 4, 2024, Honor Flight accompanied this brotherhood on an early morning flight to Washington, DC. The veterans and their companions visited World War II, Korean War, and Vietnam War memorials, Arlington National Cemetery for a “changing of the guard,” and took a bus tour of Washington, DC. They returned to MacArthur that evening and were greeted with loud cheers by the Nassau County Fire Fighters Pipe and Drum Band, as well as receiving thunderous applause from hundreds of family, friends, and supporters!

HFLI President Bill Jones, a 1972 West Point graduate and U.S. Army veteran, said, “This special flight included 41 Vietnam veterans who received long overdue recognition and thanks for their military service. They were joined on this flight by five older comrades, veterans of the Korean War. What this flight really meant was a ‘big hug’ to all of our Honor Flight veterans, their families and supporters who make such flights possible,” he said.

Jones noted that newly elected Southampton Supervisor Maria Moore served as Guardian on that flight. “We are proud to have her on board. The city has supported HFLI from the beginning, getting us up and running and ensuring our success. HFLI will be eternally grateful to Southampton for its support,” Jones said. He added that May 4 was a historic day for HFLI, as the nonprofit has flown over 2,000 veterans on that day since its founding in 2007.

Our veterans were given a special honor during their visit to DC on May 4. Despite the pouring rain, HFLI supervisor Eric Wieboldt of Merrick belted out his own song, “Welcome Home, My Brother,” moving veterans and onlookers alike to tears. Eric said he wrote his song “because Vietnam veterans never received a proper welcome home. My song is an attempt to right that wrong,” he added.

Many Honor Flight representatives, as well as veterans’ families and spectators, were in attendance for his moving performance. “Eric’s song was a tribute to the cohort of Vietnam veterans that Honor Flight brought to DC on May 4,” said Honor Flight Long Island President Bill Jones, a U.S. Army veteran and West Point graduate. “His song was part of our ongoing effort to give them long overdue recognition and thanks for their service. Honoring our Vietnam veterans means a lot to these guys, even after all these years,” Jones said. Eric will perform his song as a special tribute at our reunion on August 3.

Members of the public who come to the event between 10:30 a.m. and 12:00 p.m. can attend for FREE! After 12:00 p.m., regular museum admission is free for members, $15 for adults, $12 for seniors and veterans, $10 for children ages 5-12, and free for children ages 4 and under. This great patriotic event includes speeches by HFLI President Bill Jones and AAM President and Founder Jeff Clyman. The U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary Flotilla Band will play a popular medley called the “Armed Forces Salute,” which includes six official tunes of the U.S. Armed Forces: Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air and Space Forces, and Coast Guard. Free cake, coffee, and refreshments will be provided by HFLI!

HFLI accepts applications from veterans of World War II, Korea, and Vietnam. Long Island veterans are encouraged to register on the website. www.honorflightlongisland.org. It is important to submit an application as this ensures inclusion on our list. Thanks to donations from across Long Island, veterans fly free. They are accompanied by Guardians, able-bodied volunteers who donate $400 (tax-deductible) to offset their travel expenses. If no family member can serve as a guardian, HFLI has volunteers willing to take on the privilege of accompanying our heroes to their memorials. Questions? Call HFLI Secretary Jamie Bowden at (631) 702-2423 or email (email protected).

Robert Salant is a representative of the American Airpower Museum.