Honor Flight Mission 56 – Outstanding Service in Our Community

On April 22, 2026, when you think our community cannot possibly produce more outstanding members, we are reminded once again of just how fortunate we are.

Two veterans from our community, Marc Banning and Mel Ora, volunteered their time as Honor Flight Guardians on Honor Flight Mission 56. As guardians, they assist senior veterans—primarily from the World War II, Korean War, and Vietnam War eras—on a journey to Washington, D.C., to visit the memorials honoring the wars in which they served.

What is an Honor Flight?

An Honor Flight is organized by nonprofit organizations dedicated to transporting United States military veterans to Washington, D.C., to see the memorials built in their honor—at no cost to the veterans. These trips are designed to recognize their service, sacrifice, and dedication to our country.

What makes up an Honor Flight?

A typical Honor Flight mission includes:

• 75–90 veterans per trip

• A nearly equal number of volunteer guardians, each assigned to assist a veteran throughout the day

• Additional medical and support staff

Many missions use full-charter aircraft, and the total number of participants can exceed 100 per mission.

Honor Flights operate through a nationwide network of regional hubs, with frequent missions, especially in spring and fall, to ensure as many veterans as possible have the opportunity to participate.

We are incredibly proud of Marc Banning and Mel Ora for giving their time, compassion, and support to ensure these veterans experience a meaningful and memorable journey. Their service continues in a powerful and selfless way, and our community is better because of it. We also want to recognize our members who were at the airport for the return flight home, proudly showing their support for both senior veterans and all support staff. THANK YOU!