Alaska Airlines Partners with Honor Flight Network to Take WWII Veterans to Memorial

Nearly 50 Alaskan veterans are traveling to Washington, D.C., today to view their memorials for the first time, thanks to a partnership between Alaska Airlines and the Golden Heart and Last...

ANCHORAGE, Alaska, May 6, 2014 /PRNewswire/ — Nearly 50 Alaskan veterans are traveling to Washington, D.C., today to view their memorials for the first time, thanks to a partnership between Alaska Airlines and the Golden Heart and Last Frontier Honor Flight programs, the only Honor Flight Network regional hubs in the state of Alaska.

Honor Flight Network is a national organization working to transport America's veterans to visit memorials in Washington, D.C., dedicated to honor their service and sacrifices.

"The state of Alaska has a proud military history," said Marilyn Romano, Alaska Airlines' regional vice president – Alaska. "We're honored to fly these brave men and women to Washington to pay their respects to those who gave the ultimate sacrifice for our country."

Forty-five veterans and their guardians are departing from Anchorage and will be joined by several more veterans and their guardians in Portland, Ore., for the connecting flight to Washington. The group is scheduled to return Saturday, May 10. All veterans are flying courtesy of Alaska Airlines.

"This generous gift is unprecedented in our region," said Julie Jones, executive director of Honor Flight Alaska, "As Alaskans, we feel passionate about arriving in Washington, D.C., on our carrier—Alaska Airlines. We could not accomplish this goal without the hard work and dedication of the Alaska regional office."

The Golden Heart and Last Frontier Honor Flight programs are based in Fairbanks, Alaska, and the Matanuska-Susitna Valley.

"Both hubs have been working together to honor those veterans, who may not otherwise have an opportunity to visit their memorials in Washington, D.C.," said Ron Travis, president of The Last Frontier Honor Flight. "Priority is given to our senior veterans of World War II. Our special focus as Alaskans is honoring the Alaska Territorial Guard who, for so long, did not receive the recognition they so richly deserved. We continue to work diligently, reaching out to all villages and towns throughout Alaska, to honor every World War II veteran before it's too late."

The Last Frontier Honor Flight Operation Homecoming:
Date:   May 10, 2014
Time:  12:30 p.m.: Reception for veterans. Family, public, military are welcome to attend.
Location: Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport, near TSA before security
Who: WWII veterans and their companions.

Honor Flight Alaska – Golden Heart Operation Homecoming
Date: May 10, 2014
Time: 2:53 p.m.: Reception for veterans of Interior Alaska. 
Location: Fairbanks International Airport, outside of security in the main terminal
Learn more: www.lastfrontierhonorflight.net

Alaska Airlines, a subsidiary of Alaska Air Group (NYSE: ALK), together with its partner regional airlines, serves nearly 100 cities through an expansive network in Alaska, the Lower 48, Hawaii, Canada and Mexico. For reservations, visit www.alaskaair.com. For more news and information, visit the Alaska Airlines Newsroom at www.alaskaair.com/newsroom.

SOURCE Alaska Airlines