GREENVILLE — Over the weekend, a group of 80 WWII veterans met together at Hampton Park Baptist Church in Greenville for the first time to prepare for their journey to Washington, D.C., on the next Honor Flight from Upstate South Carolina.
The veterans will travel to Washington, D.C., on April 17 for the eighth Honor Flight from Upstate South Carolina. The group, accompanied by 60 guardians, doctors, nurses and support staff, will depart from Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport to visit the World War II, Vietnam, Korean and Marine Corps War Memorials in addition to viewing the changing of the guard at the Tomb of the Unknowns at Arlington National Cemetery. 
Honor Flight Upstate South Carolina is a non-profit volunteer-based organization that is dedicated to honoring World War II veterans and the many sacrifices they have made to keep our nation safe and our people free. 
Veterans who have never had the opportunity to see the memorials due to physical or financial limitations are invited to apply for upcoming flights. There is no cost to the veteran to participate in this worthwhile program. It is extremely important to extend this opportunity in a timely manner to all interested veterans, as they range in age from their 80s to more than 100 years old, and are dying at a rate of more tha 1,000 daily throughout our country.
Many ordinary volunteers from the Upstate have joined forces with numerous organizations and businesses to make these trips possible. In addition, the following elected officials are supporting the efforts to take every Upstate World War II veteran on an Honor Flight: Senator Lindsey Graham, U.S. Rep. Trey Gowdy, U.S. Rep. Jeff Duncan, Simpsonville Mayor Dennis Waldrop, Greenville County Sheriff Steve Loftis, Pickens County Sheriff C. David Stone, Anderson County Sheriff John Skipper and Oconee Sheriff James Singleton. Major corporate sponsors include Verizon Wireless, Lockheed, Chick-Fil-A and Spinx.
Time has never been shorter for us to say thank you to our WWII veterans. Funding is still needed to make the trip possible for another 80 WWII veterans, and 100 percent of donations go directly to costs associated with taking a veteran on this experience of a lifetime. For more information on how to get involved, make a donation or apply as a guardian or veteran, visit www.honorflightupstatesc.com.