WHAT: Miami International Airport, in partnership with Honor Flight South Florida and Eastern Air Lines, will host its third Honor Flight for 78 local World War II veterans on Saturday, October 29. New to the event – one of the veterans on the trip will be Broward resident Carl Muscarello, age 90, who is the last living person claiming to be the kissing sailor in the famous VJ Day Times Square photo.
After departing MIA Saturday morning on Eastern Air Lines flight #1941 (named after the first year of World War II), the veterans will receive tours of the World War II memorial and other military sites in the nation’s capital – many for the first time in their lives.
On the return trip aboard flight #1945 (the last year of the war), thousands of personalized thank-you letters collected at MIA from airlines, federal agencies and other airport tenants, as well as from local school children and civic organizations, will be distributed to the veterans during a traditional “mail call” for deployed soldiers. The Miami-Dade Aviation Department spearheaded the letter-writing campaign and gained support from dozens of airport and community partners.
The Honor Flight event will culminate with a homecoming at MIA, where the public is invited to take part in a massive receiving line that is expected to include local and federal honor guards, airport employees and thousands of well-wishers from the community.
For more information visit http://www.honorflightsouthflorida.org/flight_dates.html and to view a video of the April 2, 2015 Honor Flight, go to https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PGOyUMSYNEY.
The public is encouraged to take Metrorail, Metrobus or Tri-Rail to MIA because of the large turnout that is expected.
WHEN: Saturday, October 29, 2016, at 8:00 p.m.
(Media should arrive at 7:30 p.m. for staging)
WHERE: MIA, Concourse J, South Checkpoint, Second Level
EDITOR’S Media must provide the full name, date of birth and last four digits of Social Security number by noon on October 28 to attend the event post-security, and bring with them a driver’s license or other
NOTE: government-issued photo ID. Media must also be escorted by MIA Communications Division staff through the TSA checkpoint.
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Miami International Airport offers more flights to Latin America and the Caribbean than any other U.S. airport, is America’s second-busiest airport for international passengers, boasts a lineup of more than 100 air carriers and is the top U.S. airport for international freight. MIA, along with its general aviation airports, is also the leading economic engine for Miami-Dade County and the state of Florida, generating business revenue of $33.7 billion annually and welcoming 70 percent of all international visitors to Florida. MIA’s vision is to grow from a recognized hemispheric hub to a global airport of choice that offers customers a world-class experience and an expanded route network with direct passenger and cargo access to all world regions. MIA is committed to sustainable practices. Learn more at www.MIAefficiency.com.