News

Blue Ridge Honor Flight homecoming celebration is Saturday night

By Lightning Reports, Published: October 13, 2023

WNCSource Transportation is going the extra mile to help WNC veterans and their supporters get to and from Asheville Regional Airport for Saturday's Blue Ridge Honor Flight.

WNCSource, which offers transportation for seniors and disabled people to medical appointments in Henderson County, is partnering with Blue Ridge Honor Flight.
Based in Hendersonville, Blue Ridge Honor Flight organizes two to three flights per year to transport military veterans and their travel guardians to Washington, D.C., to visit monuments and memorials commemorating their service to their country.

Saturday’s Honor Flight is dedicated to the memory of U.S. Air Force Capt. Frederick M. Hall, a veteran of the Vietnam War who was missing in action for more than 54 years. His remains were recently recovered and positively identified in Laos, where he went down in a plane crash. Capt. Hall’s remains came home to Haywood County and were laid to rest with full military honors on Oct. 10. His  widow, Julie Coffey, will be on the Honor Flight and have the opportunity to visit the Vietnam War Memorial so that she can take an impression of Capt. Hall’s name.
This year’s flight will carry veterans from World War II, the Vietnam War and Korean War. After a day full of activities and fellowship, the veterans will fly home and be greeted in a homecoming celebration at the Signature Air Support Hangar of the Asheville Airport.
No public parking is available at the SAS Hangar. WNCSource Transportation will be providing private airport shuttle service for the veterans, family members and supporters during the event.

Free parking and shuttle service for the event will be at Gate 7 of the WNC Agriculture Center starting at 7:45 p.m. Saturday. The public is invited to wear red, white and blue, come out and be a part of the homecoming celebration to honor World War II, Vietnam War and Korean War veterans and Gold Star families.