FORT WAYNE, Ind. (ADAMS) – Due to the current government shutdown, Honor Flight Northeast Indiana says it will not be able to depart from the 122nd Fighter Wing Air National Guard Base for this week’s trip.
(See original release with flight information below)
We will be relocating our morning check-in and departure activities to the American Legion Post 241 in Waynedale – located at 7605 Bluffton Road. Veterans and Guardians will take charter buses to Fort Wayne Airport for the morning flight to Washington, D.C.
HFNEI released the following:
All participating Veterans and Guardians are to arrive by 5:00 am and park in the American Legion’s parking lot. Volunteers will be on hand for parking assistance.
“Our Flight is still on schedule and will still happen – we will be taking 85 Veterans to Washington D.C. as planned and will have our welcome home at the Fort Wayne Airport as planned. We always plan for situations that require us to make last minute adjustments. We greatly appreciate all the support the 122nd Fighter Wing Air National Guard Base voluntarily provides to us and understand their current situation. We look forward to being back on base again in the near future” says Cathy Berkshire, President of Honor Flight Northeast Indiana.
A special note about the welcome home Wednesday evening, due to ongoing construction at the Fort Wayne International Airport, portions of long term parking will be closed and a majority of the welcome home celebration will be outside the terminal. If you, your family and friends intend on coming out and giving our Veterans the proper welcome home they deserve, please plan to arrive by 8:00pm or sooner and dress for the weather. Please also expect alternative parking options and if possible, carpool. Honor Flight Northeast Indiana’s Flight #53 is expected to return back to Fort Wayne sometime between 9:00pm – 10:00pm. Please feel free to bring a folding chair or camp chair while you are waiting for our return.
Original release:
Honor Flight Northeast Indiana (HFNEI) will celebrate its 53rd flight to Washington D.C. on Wednesday, October 8th, 2025
Fort Wayne resident Toni Murray, a retired Fort Wayne Community Schools teacher said, “It is my wish to honor the veterans who have bravely supported and fought for our county and the freedoms we enjoy”
The October 8th Honor Flight currently consists of a total of 85 veterans, 4-Cold War veterans and 81 Vietnam veterans. The October flight will have five-purple heart recipients and five-bronze star recipients aboard.
To date 3,982 veterans have traveled on Honor Flights from Fort Wayne to view the memorials that were built in their honor.
HFNI President, Cathy Berkshire states “We extend our heartfelt appreciation to Toni Murray, for her generosity over the past several years, this is her 2nd full flight sponsorship! We are truly grateful for her continuous support of our veterans and Honor Flight Northeast Indiana!”
Berkshire continues, “We encourage everyone to attend the Welcome Home Celebration to honor these heroes when they return home from Washington D.C. Please plan to arrive at the Fort Wayne International Airport around 8:00 – 8:30 pm and park in long-term parking or the area designated for additional parking. The Airport will provide shuttle service for those parking outside the long-term parking area. Due to construction at The Fort Wayne International Airport most of the Welcome Home will be held outside. Please plan to dress according to the weather.”
Honor Flight Northeast Indiana, Inc. is a volunteer, nonprofit, 501(c)3 organization. Donations are tax deductible to the full extent allowed by law.
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