Honor Flight of the Appalachian Highlands

St. Jonesborough, TN

Honor Flight of the Appalachian Highlands is a hub of the Honor Flight Network, a nationwide program that shows gratitude for the service, sacrifice and selflessness of America’s veterans. Like the other hubs across the country, Honor Flight of Appalachian Highlands provides group trips for veterans to visit Washington, D.C. at no cost.

“The trips are to visit the memorials but also to experience the camaraderie with the fellow services members,” said Michelle Stewart, president of the board of directors. “Our hope is for a trip that can bring them closure, camaraderie and honor.”

Honor Flight of the Appalachian Highlands serves eight counties in northeast Tennessee and gives priority to veterans who served in World War II, the Korean War and the Vietnam War. About 100 volunteers and a board of directors make up the organization. Each board member is either a veteran or has strong family ties to service. For example, Stewart’s grandfathers were both World War II veterans, her father is a Vietnam veteran, and her husband is an Army veteran.

Paying tribute

Although part of the Honor Flight Network, the northeast Tennessee nonprofit organizes bus trips—not flights—to the nation’s capital. About 21 veterans attend each trip, which takes 3 days. Since launching in late 2021, 10 trips have honored about 200 veterans. Five more trips are planned for 2025 to honor another 100 service members.

During the trips, veterans and an accompanying friend or family member visit the World War II, Vietnam and Korean War veterans memorials. They also visit museums and memorials for the U.S. military branches; the National D-Day Memorial; the National 9/11 Pentagon Memorial; and Arlington National Cemetery, where attendees lay a wreath and see the changing of the guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.

Promotional tote bags become a keepsake

“Our veterans get a lot of things on the Honor Flight trip,” Stewart said. “They get mementos, they get letters from home and other items, and sometimes they have a hard time keeping all those things in one place.” A one by one grant provided branded tote bags to help keep those belongings together. The veterans then take the promotional tote bags home and can reuse them.

As an independent nonprofit, Honor Flight of the Appalachian Highlands relies on donations to carry out its mission. Stewart said the grant allowed the organization to purchase promotional gifts for the veterans that it otherwise likely would have gone without.

“It costs us about $400 to take a veteran to D.C.,” she said, “so the grant enabled us to purchase the items while giving another veteran the opportunity to travel and experience the trip of a lifetime with honor.”

A note from Cheryl

The Honor Flight of the Appalachian Highlands team does great work to honor veterans who’ve served their country. It was a privilege to provide promotional tote bags to help honor those who have given so much. If you’re interested in a one by one grant, visit onebyone.4imprint.com.

For more information about Honor Flight of the Appalachian Highlands, please visit https://honorflightah.org/ opens in new window