We did it - We honored another 90 Veterans

with an experience of a lifetime!

The Veterans could not have been honored without YOU - our supporters, our donors, and our volunteers.

The Honor Flight San Diego fall trip now puts us over 2,300 WWII, Korean War, and Vietnam War Veterans who have been honored, appreciated, and given a homecoming they perhaps didn't receive decades ago.

To see some of the media coverage from our 33rd Honor Flight, click on the links below.

Just a few of the stories from our Fall 2026 trip:

KUSI: Pre-Trip with HFSD PR Director

KUSI: Pre-Trip with Veteran Bob Walters

KSON Radio: Pre-trip with HFSD PR Director and Hosts John & Tammy

CBS 8: Vets arriving on Friday morning

CBS 8: Live on air Friday morning with National Anthem

CBS 8: Live at the airport boarding

Fox 5: Sunday News at 5 pm - Homecoming

KUSI: Sunday News at 10 pm - Vets Returning

The Vista Press: Trip overview and Homecoming

KUSI: Monday morning with Veteran Curt Dose'

KSON Radio: John's trip report with Veterans Alice and Fred Andrus

Not a media story, but a video you may enjoy:

Mel's Old Glory presentation on Friday night: Click Here!

Also on this trip, we surprised and recognized our Chairman and Flight Director, Julie Brightwell, for her 60th Honor Flight. For 18 years, she has been a guardian, team leader, board member, and our board chairman and flight director, and for several years she flew from both San Diego and Columbus, Ohio, in the same year to be part of the team.

Our best estimate is that, in her volunteer service, she traveled over 180,000 flight miles and positively impacted 3,000-4,000 Veterans, and countless more Veteran family members. We did a toast to her and wished her 60 more flights! Here's the video Celebrating Julie's 60th Honor Flight: Click Here!

"To our community and supporters...

BZ for a job well done - We thank YOU from the bottom of our hearts for helping to make this trip happen for our Veterans!"

Our 2027 flights (pending funding), are scheduled for

April 30- May 2, and Sept. 24-26, 2027.

If you know a Veteran who served at any time between 1941-1975, or a Veteran from any era with a terminal illness, let's get their application in! **Please note that we have a waitlist and our policy is that the oldest Veterans, and those who note a terminal illness on their application get the first calls. To submit a Veteran application, please Click Here!

Wreaths Across America

In 2025, we were a first-time sponsorship group for Wreaths Across America. They are a non-profit organization with the mission to Remember, Honor, and Teach about fallen Veterans by placing wreaths on their graves in December. 

We were successful in raising donations for Honor Flight San Diego through them last year, and we are back for a second year.

For every wreath purchased for a Veteran's grave through our link, Honor Flight San Diego will receive a $5 donation.

You must use this link to purchase your wreath so that Honor Flight San Diego receives the donation:

Click here for WAA & HFSD specific link.

When you click on the link, you can customize your purchase. You can purchase a wreath in honor or memory of someone special, pick a specific grave, post a message or picture to the wall, send a wreath to your home, or make it a gift to someone and send them a card to let them know! Each wreath costs $17.

Our goal is to sponsor enough wreaths to send one Veteran on his/her Honor Flight in 2027! It is a lofty goal—to raise $3,000 at $5 per wreath.

That means that we, our Honor Flight San Diego community, need to purchase 600 wreaths. We have over 4,500 subscribers who receive this newsletter, so if everyone purchases just one wreath for a grave, then we will reach and exceed our goal!

Purchases must be made by December 1st in order to ensure delivery to the National Cemetery on December 19th. The wreaths that you purchase using our link will go to Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery. A fact about Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery is that there are over 120,000 veterans and their families interred there. Because there are never enough wreaths for all the graves, they choose sections to receive the wreaths, and this year's Fort Rosecrans goal is 7,000 wreaths. According to the WAA website for Fort Rosecrans, only 1,512 wreaths have been sponsored so far. To see more info, Click Here!

National Wreaths Across America Day is

Saturday, December 19, 2026 at 9 a.m.



It is a beautiful way to honor our Veterans at their final resting place when wreaths are placed on their gravesites. You can use the same link above to sign up to volunteer on December 19th. They also need help on Saturday, January 2, 2027, to recover the wreaths.

Truck or Treat

Car & Bike Show Fundraiser

Saturday, Oct. 17

8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

"Come one, come all to the Chula Vista Elks Lodge for a fun day to raise money for Honor Flight San Diego!"

The event is open to the public and family-friendly, so share the info with your networks. There will be a car and bike show contest, costume contest, kids zone, art show, raffles, and so much more!

Swing by the Honor Flight San Diego table to say hello and pick up some of our latest merchandise!

Big thank you to Lilly Molina who is the POC for this fundraiser for us. There is still time to register your car or bike for the show. Proceeds from this event help to get senior Veterans on THEIR Honor Flight.

For more info or to register your car or bike, please call Lilly at (619)244-6088 or send her an email at: Lillymolinarealtor@yahoo.com

Military Order of the World Wars

Massing of the Colors

Saturday, Oct. 17

10:30 a.m.

Just like an Honor Flight Homecoming, THIS event is filled with patriotism! This year’s ceremony will be especially significant as we celebrate America 250 and our nation’s 250th anniversary.

You are invited to the 70th Annual Massing of the Colors and Service of Remembrance. It is open to the public, free to attend, and family-friendly.

It is held at the beautiful Spreckels Organ Pavilion in Balboa Park. Color guards from active duty military, ROTC and JROTC, Veterans Organizations, and the community are welcome to parade their colors in this special event.

For more information, email: kathleen.a.winchester@gmail.com

Military Women's Luncheon

Saturday. Oct. 31

10:30 a.m.

Please join us for the 36th Annual Military Women's Luncheon on Saturday, October 31st, at Anchors Catering and Conference Center (2975 Yama Street in San Diego).

Women from WWII to today's active duty will be in attendance to celebrate our sisterhood. The luncheon is always the kickoff for Veterans Day events in San Diego, with women from every branch and era gathering to enjoy a wonderful program. Plus, there are great door prizes! The event is open to the public, and all are invited to attend. 

This year's keynote speaker is U.S. Navy Veteran, Ms. Sandra Durbin. Ms. Durbin enlisted in the Navy in 1966. After completing boot camp at Naval Training Center Bainbridge, she had a choice: Air Traffic Controller or Electronics Technician. After careful and strategic consideration, she chose Air Traffic Control School. Upon graduation, she became the first Black Female Air Traffic Controller in the U.S. Navy, while also becoming the first in the United States!

For the day of the event, check-in begins at 10:30 a.m., and the plated meal and formal program begin at 11:30 a.m. Tickets are $40 per person, and must be purchased in advance. Please click on: 36th Annual MWL to purchase your tickets through Eventbrite, or use the attached flyer to mail a check. If you know an active duty or veteran woman who wants to attend and would like a comp ticket, please email: sdmilitarywomensluncheon@gmail.com.

USS Midway Museum

"Dear Doc"

Monday, Nov. 16

7 p.m.

This was such a wonderful event last year, that we are glad that our friends onboard the USS Midway are bringing it back!

Join us aboard the historic USS Midway for a powerful night of remembrance as students from San Diego State University (SDSU) bring to life real WWII wartime letters written to Dr. Lauren Post, a beloved SDSU professor who kept the spirit of connection alive through the voices of his students serving overseas.

At least one of our Honor Flight San Diego Veterans was attending SDSU when the war broke out. Last year, we heard the words that U.S. Army 101st Airborne paratrooper Sgt Tom Rice wrote home. While the local legend, WWII USAF Pilot BGEN Robert Cardenas, never made it on his Honor Flight, he was part of our Honor Flight family and was also a student at SDSU during WWII. We also heard his words in the letters he wrote to Dr. Post!

Here's a short 2-minute video about the event: Dear Doc video

For more information and to get your ticket, Click Here!

Photo Courtesy: Don Biadog

"Calling all WWII Veterans!"

**This is a short notice opportunity for any WWII Veteran and their guardian/companion to fly to Washington, D.C. for Veterans Day - all expenses paid! Names must be submitted by Friday, Oct. 23, 2026 to the POC listed below.

On Veterans Day, November 11, an organization will host a special ceremony honoring some of America's oldest living veterans. These veterans will be welcomed as VIP guests, recognized for their service, and professionally photographed and filmed as part of the ceremony. To make this experience as comfortable and meaningful as possible, the hosting organization will cover 100% of travel expenses for each veteran and a companion, including first-class airfare, hotel accommodations, meals, and ground transportation.

Additionally, each veteran will receive $1,500 per day for every day of participation, including travel days (anticipated November 10–12). This compensation recognizes their time and participation, as well as the use of their image and likeness in photography and video captured during the event.

Here's a quick overview of the event:

Dates & Schedule:

• Travel In: Tuesday, November 10
• Ceremony Date: Wednesday, November 11
• Travel Out: Thursday, November 12

Compensation:

• Veteran Day Rate: $1,500 per day, including required travel days
• Estimated Total Compensation: $4,500 per veteran for three days of participation

Travel & Expenses (Covered for Veteran + One Companion/Guardian):

• Flights: First-class round-trip airfare
• Lodging: Hotel accommodations provided
• Ground Transportation: All transfers included (airport, hotel, and monument)
• Per Diem: $100 per day, per person, for both the veteran and companion/guardian
• Additional Accommodations: Caregiver support or special travel needs can be discussed individually

For more info or questions, the POC is Patti Wiley. Please email her at: patti@5309casting.com and let her know that you heard about it from Honor Flight San Diego.

**Honor Flight San Diego is often asked by organizations to help them find and connect to our WWII Veterans. This hosting organization has been vetted and this is an excellent opportunity to honor our WWII Veterans for their service and sacrifice. If you know a WWII Veteran who wants to do this, please contact the organizer directly. Honor Flight San Diego NEVER shares Veteran contact info without first talking to the Veteran or his/her family member.

Veterans Season is quickly approaching!

Save the Date for these public (and free) events!

Saturday, Nov. 7 (9:30 am) - Alpine Veterans Wall of Honor Veterans Day Ceremony - For more info: Click Here!

Saturday, Nov. 7 (11 a.m.) - Mt. Soledad Veterans Memorial Veterans Day Ceremony "Guardians of the Promise" - For more info: Click Here!

Wednesday, Nov. 11 (10 a.m.) - San Diego Veterans Day Parade "Commemorating the 35th Anniversary of Operation Desert Storm" - For more info: Click Here!

Wednesday, Nov. 11 (4 p.m.) - Miramar National Cemetery Support Foundation Veterans Day Ceremony "A Salute to Special Operations" - For more info: Click Here!

-How to reach us-

Email: Info@HonorFlightSanDiego.org

Phone: (800) 655-6997