After a Veteran fills out the online application, they are selected on a first come, first served basis for the next soonest trip. At this time, we prioritize WWII Veterans and those with a terminal illness, followed by Korean War Veterans and Vietnam Veterans.

No, spouses are not permitted to travel with you and they may not serve as your Guardian. The only exception is for a spouse who is a Veteran themself, or if the spouse is a full-time, total caregiver for the Honor Flight Veteran with a disability, which is considered on a case by case basis.

Central & Southwest Virginia Honor Flight trains volunteer Guardians to serve as companions to our traveling Veterans. Every Guardian is assigned to one Veteran. If you wish to be paired with a specific Guardian, please indicate this on your application.

Our twice-yearly trips start at 0745 on Friday morning and conclude at approximately 1400 on Sunday afternoon.

The cost is 100% free for Veterans. You may bring money to purchase souvenirs as desired, but all transportation, meals, lodging, and activities are free.

You are welcome to bring your cellphone on the trip. However, we ask that phone use be kept to a minimum in order to maximize the Honor Flight experience. If you do not have a cellphone, our staff will have phones that you may use at your request.

Our team is comprised of registered nurses (RNs) and emergency medical technicians (EMTs) who are equipped to assist in the safe transport of Veterans who use mobility aides or oxygen. Central & Southwest Virginia Honor Flight furnishes enough wheelchairs for every Veteran and the motor coach has a wheelchair lift.

Safety is our top priority, and we will work with each Veteran to learn about and accommodate their unique medical needs, case by case. We provide distilled water on a nightly basis for those who travel with CPAP machines, wheelchairs for every Veteran in case of fatigue, and our medical staff carry basic first aid supplies and an AED at all times.

The family and friends of traveling Veterans are encouraged to attend our departure and arrival ceremonies at the National D-Day Memorial in Bedford, Virginia.

Honor Flight t-shirts will be provided to every Veteran and Guardian for mandatory use on Saturday. You may wear a layer(s) over or under your Honor Flight t-shirt if desired. Otherwise, please pack according to the season and with comfortable shoes for walking. Bringing layers and jackets is recommended — we will proceed rain or shine! Please bring enough toiletries, socks, and undergarments for 3 days and 2 nights.

Friday and Saturday nights will be spent at a hotel in Fairfax, Virginia. Each room has two queen beds and will accommodate two Honor Flight travelers. A Veteran may be assigned to room with another Veteran of the same gender, or they may room with their Guardian if they are the same gender. A continental breakfast will be provided each morning inside of the hotel’s reception hall.

YES! When your Guardian contacts you in the weeks leading up to the trip, please share the names you would like to find with your Guardian. Knowing the correct spelling and date of casualty are helpful. Providing their names before the trip can help our staff work to identify the location of the names on each wall in advance.