VALDOSTA —
In 2007 and 2008, Honor Flight South Georgia sent hundreds of area World War II veterans to see their monument in Washington, D.C.
Valdosta and Lowndes County residents and organizations raised the lion’s share of more than $100,000 to charter planes to fly World War II veterans to D.C. Twice in 2007 and once in 2008, planes left Valdosta Regional Airport in the morning and returned the same Saturday evening.
This was South Georgia’s role in the nationwide Honor Flight campaign which continues sending the vanishing World War II generation to visit the monument created in their honor.
Next week, “Honor Flight” the movie flies into Ashley Cinemas for one evening, according to Valdosta Veterans First. The movie is not based on the South Georgia travels but should serve as a glimpse into what area folks experienced five and six years ago.
To secure the movie for the region, 75 people must confirm their attendance by this afternoon.
Movie synopsis: “‘Honor Flight’ is a heartwarming documentary about four living World War II veterans and a Midwest community coming together to give them the trip of a lifetime. Volunteers race against the clock to fly thousands of WWII veterans to Washington, D.C., to see the memorial constructed for them in 2005, nearly 60 years after their epic struggle. The trips are called ‘Honor Flights’ and for the veterans, who are in their late 80s and early 90s, it’s often the first time they’ve been thanked and the last trip of their lives. The 24-hour journey is full of surprises that deeply move all who are involved. It’s uncommon for World War II veterans to talk about the war, but the Honor Flight experience brings their stories out. Many veterans say, with the exception of their wedding day and the birth of their children, the trip is the best day of their life.”
Tickets for this movie must be reserved online in advance: http://www.tugg.com/events/2639 The deadline is by this afternoon. Seventy-five people must register to confirm the film’s playing in Valdosta. The movie is scheduled to screen 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 28, Ashley Cinemas.
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