Chairman’s Corner
IHF Supporters and volunteers-
Welcome to May in Indianapolis! So much is going on with the races, springtime chores, graduations and more, so we decided to have a Honor Flight on Memorial Day weekend! Not really, we know it is not the best timing, but we have to go when aircraft are available to charter. So even though there is a lot going on, please take the time to show up to welcome our heroes home on Saturday evening, May 26 at Decatur Central High School, 9pm! Yes, we are using a different facility due to a conflict with the graduation ceremonies at our normal venue. We would like to thank the folks at Decatur Central High School for being so wonderful and accommodating for us! We hope to see all of you “on the curb” and fill the gym to bursting with Red White and Blue!
If you have not looked at our Photo page on our website Indy Honor Flight in a while, you should! We have over 4,000 photos of our April 28th flight posted and our photographers have done another outstanding job of capturing the flight experience. Take time to look, you will be touched by the images of our heroes being loved and appreciated.
Our weekly involvement in the Avon Cruise-in has returned, so if you are in the mood to enjoy a nice evening of classic cars and fellowship while supporting IHF, please stop by the Lowes parking lot in Avon every Saturday from 6-9pm! It is a great time and some of these rides are outta-sight!
Another opportunity coming up is the Ride Across Indian (RAIN) bicycle ride fundraiser. The event is on July 21st, but you can get involved today. Even if you are not a bike rider, you can purchase a really cool looking bike jersey or shirt to show off your pride in the Indy Honor Flight! The details are listed below, please support this event and pledge or ride!
We attended the dedication of the new Veteran memorial in Hancock County last week and it is a beauty-stop by and see it. It was wonderful event and a terrific memorial for the New Palestine community.
Our heroes keep sending in more Veteran applications, we currently have more than 850 on our waiting list to fly. We are very excited by the interest in our program and want everyone to keep finding Veterans and sending in the applications. At the same time, we are searching for more donors and means of supporting the flights. Each of these flights cost nearly $100,000 and costs continue to increase. If you can donate or have ideas/contacts to help us raise funds, we would love to have the help. We do not want to disappoint even our Veteran heroes, please be generous with your tax-deductible donations!
We are so blessed to have great volunteers and board members who are always willing to step up and get the work done. All of our folks work for free, no one is paid a dime. The flights, visits to civic groups, churches, businesses, the speaking engagements, fundraising and all of what we do require a lot of time and effort. Thank you to each of those who help to honor our Hoosier Heroes.
Enjoy spring in Indiana and remember to tell a Veteran “Thanks for my Freedom” every chance you get.
In service,
Dale True, Indy Honor Flight Chairman
SOUTHSIDE LUNCH
The South-side lunch will have a very special guest speaker, Col. Steve Wilkerson (retired). Col. Wilkerson was a load-master on one of the “Hanoi Taxis” bringing our POWs home at the end of the Vietnam War. Please join us Saturday June 9th at Greenwood Village. Click the link below for more information, address and start time.
Link to IHF Monthly Meal Information
RAIN Fundraiser for IHF – CALLING ALL CYCLIST!!!!!!
The annual Ride Across Indiana (RAIN) bicycle ride will occur on July 21, 2018. The ride starts in Terre Haute and ends in Richmond…160 miles in ONE DAY! This annual event draws 1,500 or so cyclists, and Indy Honor Flight will be represented this year!!!
One of our IHF volunteers has formed an Indy Honor Flight Cycling Team to make the journey and raise money for Indy Honor Flight. Not all team members will ride the entire 160 miles…some will ride portions of it in “stages.” But many will ride the entire route. We’re looking for more riders to join the team! If you are a cyclist, or you know a cyclist who is interested in riding RAIN (the entire route or shorter stages), we need you! If you can pledge monetary support to a rider…we REALLY need YOU!!!
So, if you are:
1. Interested in participating as a rider, or
2. Interested in sponsoring/making a pledge for a rider
…please send an e-mail to: ihfrainfundraisinginfo@gmail.com
Team cycling jerseys and “support crew” shirts have been designed and are available for purchase from an external vendor. We’ll send shirt ordering information soon.
There will be an opportunity on the day of the ride to gather on the ride route at strategic locations and cheer on and encourage the riders as they pass. You can wear one of the team shirts and hold up IHF signs! Believe me…on a long ride like this, they really appreciate the support!
The IHF/RAIN Fundraising Coordinator will give you all the details you need about participating in and supporting the ride. This is a fantastic opportunity to get involved and give support to the team, the organization…and ultimately to our Veterans. So, send the e-mail and join the effort!
IHF Flight #27 Homecoming
You are cordially invited to attend the Homecomings for IHF #27. Veterans call your Guardians and tell them you want to come! Guardians call your Veterans and make sure they aren’t busy! We would love to see you!
Saturday May 26th at Decatur Central High Shcool. The Event starts at 9:00PM
Decatur Central High School
5251 Kentucky Ave
Indianapolis, IN 46221
Follow the signs for parking
IHF Out and About
- IHF #27 Saturday May 26th – Decatur Central High School, 9:00PM
- Avon Cruise In – Every Saturday starting May 5th in the Lowes Parking lot in Avon , IN
- Classic Cars and Trucks and fellowship
- Starts at 6:30pm till sundown
- 50/50 Raffle to Benefit IHF
- IHF 2018 Reunion – Details to come soon!
- IHF #28 Saturday October 20th Plainfield High School
- Ganassi Racing Open House Fundraiser November 17th – More info to follow!