Veterans depart Appleton on last Old Glory Honor Flight of 2026

GREENVILLE, Wis. (WBAY) — Veterans are flying to Washington, D.C., on Old Glory Honor Flight Mission 84. They will tour the city and visit major war memorials built in their honor.

“Our mission is to say thank you. Pure and simple,” said Diane MacDonald. “It’s a way to say thank you to our veterans for their service. It’s a way for them to make new friends, maybe find some peace and closure. So it’s a wonderful way this community can say thank you for our freedom.”

Itinerary includes memorials and Arlington

MacDonald, executive director of Old Glory Honor Flight, said veterans on the flight will visit the World War II Memorial, the Vietnam Wall and the Korean War Memorial. Arlington National Cemetery is also a stop on the trip.

MacDonald said the flight is the final one of the season and includes Vietnam veterans, Korean War veterans and veterans of wars in between.

“This is a really big day for these veterans,” MacDonald said. “Some of them getting to go for the first time.”

Applications open for Desert Shield, Desert Storm veterans

Old Glory Honor Flight will begin accepting applications for veterans to see the Desert Shield Desert Storm Memorial, which recently opened.

“That is a huge, a huge step and very exciting for many veterans and their families,” MacDonald said.

MacDonald said any veteran who served prior to 1991 is eligible for an Old Glory Honor Flight.

“So they head to our website, they can apply and they’ll go on a flight sometime next year,” MacDonald said.

Veterans to depart at 6:30 a.m.

Veterans on Mission 84 were set to depart Appleton International Airport at 6:30 a.m. and be gone throughout the day.

MacDonald said the public is invited to welcome the veterans home later in the evening and to make signs to thank the veterans for their service.