Flag City Honor Flight (FCHF), the local hub of the National Honor Flight Network, is planning four flights in its upcoming 2023 season.
FCHF serves veterans from World War II, Korean War, and Vietnam War eras. Due to a long waiting list of Vietnam War-era Veterans, the nonprofit offered its first all Vietnam-era flight last year; and this year’s flight is sponsored by the Don Templin family in honor of Scott Atkins. The flight in June will be the second all Vietnam- era event. The organization hopes to continue to offer these flights in the future with the help of generous corporate and individual sponsors.
The 2023 flights departing from the Grand Aire Terminal in Toledo will take place on April 18, June 13, September 12 and November 7.
FCHF has a new leader. Steve Schult is now president and flight director, succeeding longtime president and flight director Bob Weinberg. Mr. Schult, who recently retired from local public accounting firm, Gilmore Jasion Mahler, LTD, became an active FCHF supporter and was quickly identified for a leadership role.
Mr. Weinberg, who was president for over a decade, said that now is the time for the leadership change, and Mr. Schult is the right choice. “There’s no doubt in my mind that Steve Schult will make his mark as FCHF president and flight director. Steve’s leadership and professional skills, business knowledge, active community service in retirement and, most importantly, his energy and passion for Flag City Honor Flight will bring many successes in the years ahead.”
Mr. Schult had similar praise for Mr. Weinberg, who plans to remain active, assisting with the leadership transition. “As a past sentinel guarding the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, Bob Weinberg was the perfect person to lead Flag City Honor Flight,” said Mr. Schult. “His passion for the organization and his desire to help veterans get to see their memorials in Washington, D.C. was evident to everyone. While he will be stepping away from the president/ flight director role, I know he will still do all he can to help us complete future successful missions.”
Flag City Honor Flight currently has 550 veterans waiting to fly. The organization anticipates working through a good portion of that list of applications in 2023 and encourages others to come forward and submit applications.
FCHF also is in need of guardians for the 2023 flight season. Guardians are paired with veterans as their chaperones for the daylong visit to the memorials.
Interested veterans and guardians are encouraged to submit their applications now, which can be found online at flagcityhonorflight.org/appli cations/.
