Photo( L-R): Vinnie Hallinan, Post 1443 Commander, Marianne Schmidt, Board Member and Safety Coordinator, Mike Schmidt, Flight Team Member and Past Guardian,and Jim Clifford, Greenwood Lake Lions Club
Local veterans invited to take part in an unforgettable day of honor, remembrance and recognition
For generations of American veterans, the monuments standing in Washington, D.C., represent far more than chapters in a history book. They represent friends, sacrifice, service and, in many cases, memories carried quietly for decades.
Hudson Valley Honor Flight is working to make certain those veterans have the opportunity to see the memorials built in their honor — at no cost to them.
The nonprofit organization is preparing for another major milestone this fall, when Mission 40 takes flight from New York Stewart International Airport on Saturday, Oct. 17, 2026.
The upcoming trip will be Hudson Valley Honor Flight’s third mission of the year. Mission 38 departed Stewart Airport on April 11, followed by Mission 39 from Westchester County Airport on May 30.
According to the 2026 Honor Flight schedule at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, the Oct. 17 flight is expected to bring 84 Hudson Valley veterans to Washington for the day.
A Day That’s About the Veterans
Hudson Valley Honor Flight is a nonprofit organization dedicated to honoring the men and women who served the United States by giving them the opportunity to travel to Washington and visit the national memorials commemorating their service.
The trip is provided at no cost to the veteran.
The experience, however, is about considerably more than transportation.
Veterans travel together, accompanied by guardians and volunteers, for a day of remembrance, camaraderie and recognition. Meals are provided throughout the day, and organizers work to accommodate veterans so they can safely enjoy the experience.
For many participants, the trip also provides something that cannot easily be measured: the opportunity to spend a day surrounded by fellow veterans who understand the experiences, memories and sacrifices that accompany military service.
Hudson Valley Honor Flight is a local hub of the nationwide Honor Flight Network and serves veterans primarily from Orange, Ulster, Dutchess, Westchester, Rockland, Sullivan and Putnam counties in New York, along with Pike County in Pennsylvania, Bergen County in New Jersey and Fairfield County in Connecticut. Veterans from surrounding areas may also be considered.
In 2026, the organization says it is flying primarily veterans of the Vietnam and Cold War eras, while continuing to accept applications from World War II, Korean War and other eligible veterans. Veterans suffering from a terminal illness are given priority regardless of when they served.
That makes the organization’s message particularly important today: veterans should not assume they have missed their opportunity.
If you served, apply.
Applications are generally considered in the order received, with the exception of terminally ill veterans, who receive priority. Veterans also do not have to find their own guardian before applying; Hudson Valley Honor Flight maintains a list of volunteers willing to accompany veterans.
Mission 40 Set for Oct. 17
Mission 40 is scheduled to depart from New York Stewart International Airport in New Windsor on Saturday, Oct. 17, with the day’s activities scheduled from approximately 5:30 a.m. through 9 p.m.
The Honor Flight tradition extends beyond those who board the airplane. Families, friends, veterans organizations and members of the public traditionally gather at the airport for the morning send-off and return in the evening to give the veterans the welcome home they deserve.
Those homecoming celebrations have become an important part of the Honor Flight experience — particularly for veterans who returned from conflicts such as Vietnam at a time when public receptions were far different.
For some, decades have passed since they came home.
Honor Flight offers the community another opportunity to say two words that should never have taken so long, – “Welcome home”.
Greenwood Lake Lions Continue Tradition of Community Service
Here at home, that same spirit of service can be found in organizations such as the Greenwood Lake Lions Club, whose members have long supported local residents, youth programs, scholarships and community projects.
The club has served the Greenwood Lake community for more than 70 years. Its recent work has included scholarships for local graduating seniors, support for children’s literacy, environmental programs, clothing drives and other community initiatives.
The Lions’ philosophy is straightforward: money raised through its charitable efforts is returned to support the community and the people it serves.
Organizations such as Hudson Valley Honor Flight and the Greenwood Lake Lions demonstrate two sides of the same idea — that service does not end when a uniform is put away, a fundraiser concludes or a volunteer event is over. Communities are strengthened when people choose to give their time and resources to one another.
And for Hudson Valley Honor Flight, there is another mission ahead.
On Oct. 17, another group of Hudson Valley veterans will leave Stewart Airport before sunrise for Washington. They will visit memorials bearing the names of battles, wars, friends and generations of Americans who served alongside them.
That evening, when Mission 40 returns home, the Hudson Valley will have another chance to return the favor — by simply being there to welcome them.
Veterans and Volunteers Wanted
Veterans interested in participating in a future Hudson Valley Honor Flight, family members who know an eligible veteran, prospective guardians, volunteers and supporters can learn more through Hudson Valley Honor Flight.
Hudson Valley Honor Flight:
hvhonorflight.com
845-391-0076
Those interested in becoming involved with the Greenwood Lake Lions Club or another Lions Club can also learn more through Lions Clubs International.
Most importantly, veterans are encouraged to apply. There is no cost to the veteran, and having a personal guardian already lined up is not required.
