Honor Flight Scheduled for April 18, 2026
Honor Flight of the Cape Fear Area (HFCFA) will fly its next mission to Washington, DC on April 18, 2026. All Veterans who served prior to 1975 are eligible to apply. To accommodate more Veterans for this once-in-a-lifetime experience, HFCFA will charter a larger aircraft, enabling 85 Veterans to travel to the nation’s capital.
Click the website button below for applications.
We hope others will attend the Welcome Home Celebration to honor our heroes. Their flight is typically scheduled to arrive 9:30 PM at the Wilmington International Airport. For details, see flyer in Download folder.
A hub of the national Honor Flight Network, HFCFA was established in 2020 with the sole mission of flying Veterans to Washington, DC for an all-expenses-paid day of honor and remembrance.
The flights are open to Veterans who served prior to 1975 and those of any era that have a life-limiting illness. Veterans are not required to have served in combat to be eligible to travel with HFCFA.
“Participants in Honor Flight consistently tell us that the trip is a life-changing experience” said Patty Miljenovic, HFCFA Flight Leader, “we are thrilled to celebrate our Veterans on this 5th mission to DC.”
Given the age of World War II and Korean War Veterans, HFCFA gives priority to the Veterans from those eras, and to those from any era who are critically ill. In recent years, however, it is predominately Vietnam-era Veterans that comprise most of the participants.
Applications are available on the HFCFA website (www.honorflightcfa.org) year-round. Applicants who are not selected will be placed on a waiting list for the next flight. Specific criteria for Veterans and the guardians who serve as their one-on-one escorts or “battle buddies” for the day can be found on the website. We will need additional guardians for the upcoming flight.
A local 501(c)3, HFCFA depends on the generosity of the local community to support this experience for our Veterans. Sponsorships and individual donations are accepted on the website or by check. Volunteer applications and a link to use to donate are also available on the HFCFA website.
The entire community will be invited to participate in our Mail Call Operation and our Welcome Home Celebration for the Veterans at ILM Airport on the evening of the Honor Flight.