Chairman’s Corner

Late winter greetings to all of our friends and supporters!

We hope the strange Indiana winter has not hurt your attitude, Spring is coming soon! We all know Indiana has a varied approach to a “normal” season. Regardless, we hope our newsletter finds you healthy and happy.

The Indy Honor Flight is deep into preparation for our first flight of 2020; number 33 on April 11th. Our bus captains have been making calls and setting up interviews, the flight will be full within the next two weeks! We are excited to meet another plane load of deserving Hoosier heroes and to offer them a day of thanks and honor. We are thankful for our great volunteers who are spending a lot of their own time getting the flight ready to go. We also look forward to seeing all of you “on the curb” to welcome the next IHF alumni back from Washington D.C. the evening of April 11 at Decatur High School.

When you read this, we will have just attended the Rotary Clubs efforts at fundraising. On Saturday, February 29th (Leap Day) they hosted a large fundraiser for us and worked very hard to make the event successful! You all know we do not enjoy talking about money, but without donations both large and small we cannot fly our Veterans. The experience has been called priceless by our Veterans, so if you are able to donate we are grateful.

We have two other confirmed flight dates for 2020 so far; May 23rd (#34) and September 12th (#35). We should be able to confirm a date for October soon. Please save these dates and plan to volunteer and attend the Homecoming Celebrations so every Veteran honored will see a large crowd saying “thank you for your service, welcome home and never forget”. Our service members need to know their service will always be remembered, regardless of when they served.
As a reminder, we are always looking for ways to not only raise funds but also to spread the word about our mission. If your civic group, workplace or other gathering would like to learn about the Honor Flight work please let us know.

Again, Spring is just around the corner, so let’s all look forward to rocking a terrific 2020 flight season! We are ready, I hope you are!

In service,

Dale True, IHF Chairman
Indy Honor Flight

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Request for Help

Mail call is one of the best parts of the honor flight for our Heroes! Certainly stirs the “dust up” on the plane! If you would like to write a Thank you letter or send a card please have them in the mail by the dates below. If you are a Veteran who has been on the flight, we strongly encourage you to send a letter to the next group. If anyone knows what they will be feeling as they read their mail it the one that went before them.

Here are a few tips when writing your letter/card:

• Address to Any Veteran
• Do not date your letter/card – what we don’t use for Spring we will use for the Fall flights.
• Express your gratitude!
• Include a return address so they can say thank you back if they want to.

• IHF #33, April Flights mail is due to IHF by March 29th, 2020
• IHF #34, May Flights mail is due to IHF by May 14th, 2020

You can send your cards and letters to:

Indy Honor Flight
PO Box 10
Plainfield IN 46168
Attn: Any Veteran

If you know a Veteran on the flight please be sure to address the envelope to them instead of Any Veteran.

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Let’s Eat!

Veterans did you know we sponsor meals in four locations around the Central Indy area for any Veteran that has flown with us? Did you know that we also have guest speakers or entertainment at each meal? Click the link below and find the one closest to you and come out and break bread with us! Bring your Guardian too!

Link to IHF Monthly Meal Information just click on the CALENDAR tab for information on all IHF Events around town!

Come eat with us!!!

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NEW REQUIREMENTS FOR INDIANA DRIVERS LICENSE – REAL ID NEEDED TO FLY STARTING OCTOBER 2020

Is your driver’s license Real ID compliant? If it doesn’t have a little gold star up in the corner, that’s a nope.

People in Indiana applying for a new driver’s license, learner’s permit or ID card are being encouraged to go ahead and upgrade to a Real ID-compliant version at the Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles. The cards will be required for everyone beginning in October 2020.

For those who have not yet made the switch but are looking to fly with us as a Guardian, Bus Captain or Medic or if you have a loved one or friend on our waiting list please encourage them to make the switch to the Indiana Real ID now. This is required to board an airplane starting October 2020. Below is a link to the Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles that will provide more information on what documents are needed, etc.

Everything you need to know about Real ID

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IHF Out and About in 2019/2020

• March West Side Breakfast, Saturday March 7th Click here for details
• March East Side Breakfast, Saturday March 14th Click here for details
• March South Side Lunch, Saturday March 14th Click here for details
• March North Side Meal, Thursday March 26th Click here for details
• March 26th Ground Crew Training for Spring Flights – check your email or the Volunteer Facebook page for information. MUST BE REGISTERED MEMBER OF GROUND CREW TO ATTEND.
• April 11th – IHF #33 Decatur Central High School
• May 23rd – IHF #34 Plainfiled High School
• August IHF Reunion – Date to be announced soon!
• September 12th IHF #35
• October IHF #36 – Date to be announced