Hudson Valley Honor Flight to Celebrate Milestone 40th Flight and 3,000 Veterans Honored During Trip to Washington on Oct. 17; Lunch of Honor Set for Dec. 6
More Than 80 Veterans to Visit Nation’s War Memorials; Annual Lunch of Honor to Recognize Westchester County Airport
WALDEN, N.Y. (Oct. 12, 2026) – Hudson Valley Honor Flight (HVHF) will celebrate a major milestone on Saturday, Oct. 17, when more than 80 veterans depart from Stewart International Airport for Washington, D.C., aboard “Mission 3,000.” The organization’s 40th flight since its founding in 2012 marks the achievement of honoring more than 3,000 veterans with the “flight of a lifetime.”
Honor Flight also will hold its annual Lunch of Honor on Sunday, Dec. 6, at Resorts World Catskills in Monticello, Sullivan County. The patriotic celebration, which annually attracts more than 700 attendees, will honor Westchester County Airport for its support of the organization.
Mission 3,000 will provide veterans from the Hudson Valley and surrounding counties with a day of honor, reflection and remembrance. Participants in this “Flight of a Lifetime” will visit memorials dedicated to veterans of World War II, the Korean War and the Vietnam War, as well as Arlington National Cemetery.
“Reaching the milestone of honoring more than 3,000 veterans is an extraordinary moment for Hudson Valley Honor Flight and a tribute to the men and women who have served our nation,” said Jennifer DeFrancesco, Executive Director of Hudson Valley Honor Flight. “Each flight is an opportunity to express our gratitude, recognize their sacrifices and give these veterans an experience they will always remember. This milestone also reflects the tremendous dedication of our volunteers, guardians, donors and supporters who make these missions possible.”
Veterans will return to Stewart International Airport that evening. Each veteran will be accompanied by a personal guardian and supported by the Honor Flight team throughout the excursion. The entire experience is provided at no cost to the honored veterans.
Since its establishment in 2012, Hudson Valley Honor Flight has brought together veterans, volunteers, guardians and supporters to recognize generations of military service. Mission 3,000 represents another significant chapter in the organization’s continuing commitment to honoring American veterans. Generous sponsors whose community spirit have helped fund Honor Flights include ShopRite, a premier sponsor, along with the Orange County Highway Superintendents Association, Rushing Duck Brewing and Teamster Horsemen Chapter 16N, as well as many others whose support is deeply appreciated.
Hudson Valley Honor Flight will celebrate its veterans and the year’s missions during its annual Lunch of Honor on Sunday, Dec. 6, at Resorts World Catskills. Veterans who have taken Honor Flights can attend the lunch free of charge.
The patriotic celebration includes veterans, their families, friends, volunteers and supporters. The program will feature a cocktail hour, lunch, dancing, remarks from speakers and a video presentation highlighting the year’s Honor Flight missions and participating veterans. This year’s Lunch of Honor will recognize Westchester County Airport, which since 2014, has played a key role in allowing Hudson Valley Honor Flight to expand its reach and serve more veterans from the lower Hudson Valley. Over the course of 15 missions flown, Westchester County Airport has demonstrated its commitment to the Honor Flight mission and a deep respect and appreciation for veterans. “It is our pleasure to honor them at this year’s Lunch of Honor,” said DeFrancesco.
For more information about the Lunch of Honor, visit hvhonorflight.com/lunch.
Hudson Valley Honor Flight continues to accept applications from veterans interested in participating in future missions. Applications and additional information are available at hvhonorflight.com/how-to-participate.
About Hudson Valley Honor Flight
Hudson Valley Honor Flight (HVHF) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization which honors American veterans for all their sacrifices. Honor Flight transports these heroes to Washington, D.C., to visit memorials at no cost to them. It is the local hub of the National Honor Flight Network (which consists of more than 100 independent nonprofit hubs across America). Hudson Valley Honor Flight flies multiple times a year out of Stewart International Airport and Westchester County Airport. It serves veterans from the following counties: Orange (N.Y.), Ulster (N.Y.), Dutchess (N.Y.), Westchester (N.Y.), Rockland (N.Y.), Sullivan (N.Y.), Putnam (N.Y.), Pike (Pa.), Bergen (N.J.), and Fairfield (Conn.). Veterans from other surrounding counties are considered as well. Top priority is given to those veterans of the Greatest Generation, that of World War II, followed by veterans of the Korean War, Cold War, Vietnam and all terminally ill veterans. Applications are kept on file. For more information, visit hvhonorflight.com.
