Honor Flights rely on generosity to keep taking off

The best day of their lives.

That’s what George Farrell, retired Providence fire chief and chairman of the Rhode Island Fire Chiefs Honor Flight Hub, wants to give every single veteran who takes an Honor Flight to Washington, DC to visit the memorials built to commemorate their service.

Farrell, who founded the Rhode Island hub of the nationwide Honor Flight network, considers it his honor and duty to be responsible for the safe passage of veterans who have served their country.  “Their families trust us, and we are prepared,” Farrell said last week as he was wrapping up preparations for the next trip which will take place on March 30.

Called “Honor Flight ‘Charlie,” this trip will include two 100-year-old veterans of World War II, six Korean War Veterans, and 13 Vietnam Veterans.  As on all honor flights, the guests are accompanied by ‘guardians’ and medical staff to make sure the trip is as safe as possible.

In preparation for the flight, Farrell was scheduled to be at the St. Mary’s Feast Society in Cranston Saturday, where a special fundraising dinner was being held for the Hub.

Every veteran travels free of charge, and Farrell said that donations, sponsors, and special fundraising events like the dinner at the Feast Society are what make the Honor Flights possible.

He noted that this month’s trip is named ‘Charlie,’ because its primary sponsor is North Providence Mayor Charles Lombardi’s charitable fund.

“It’s our sponsors and local fundraising events like (the dinner) at the Feast Society that enable us to do this,” said Farrell who founded the Rhode Island Hub of the national Honor Flight network in 2012.  Since then, the state chapter has conducted 31 Honor Flights and transported 925 veterans to the nation’s capital.

“By the time I finish the details for one trip, I’m already planning the next,” said Farrell who is known statewide for his passion and tireless work to honor Rhode Island veterans.

The cost of each flight varies, he said, and is often dependent on the price he can negotiate with airlines.  If he must charter a flight, the price of traveling can be as much as $80,000, he said, but he is often able to find commercial flights.  The guardians who accompany each veteran, as well as others who assist the non-profit Honor Flight organization are almost all volunteers.

“It’s our privilege to travel with these veterans,” he said, adding that the organization is well aware of the “unbelievable trust” that veterans’ families have in the Honor Flight – trusting the organization to keep loved ones safe on what may be the biggest trip they have taken in years.

“Since America felt it was important to build a memorial to the service and ultimate sacrifice of her veterans, the Honor Flight Network and RI Honor Flight Hub believe it is equally important that they get to visit and experience THEIR memorial,” the organization sates as its official philosophy.

The Rhode Island Hub is one of 128 active Hubs in the country.  Founded in 2005, the Honor Flight network states on its website that, to date, it has served more than 317,000 veterans “and counting.”

Farrell said it is his honor to attend fundraisers such as the dinner at the St. Mary’s Feast Society and that he appreciates the sponsors and individual donors who make the Honor Flights possible.  “Sometimes in the past we have large sponsors such as Ocean State Job Lot, and we also have local groups that support us with fundraisers,” he said.  “We are grateful for all the support we receive.”

If anyone is interested in contributing to the Rhode Island Honor Flight Hub, they can visit its website at https://www.rihonorflight.com.