Honor Flights of the Cape Fear Area

By the time the World War II memorial was completed in 2004, nearly 60 years after the end of that brutal war, many of the veterans were too old, or too infirm, to travel to Washington D.C. to see it. Thankfully, there were people around the country who recognized the need to help these soldiers visit the memorial and receive the appreciation they deserve. A non-profit organization called the Honor Flights Network was established to serve this purpose. Over the years, the program has expanded to include veterans from the Korean and Vietnam Wars, honoring their service and the sacrifices they made for our country. Honor Flights of the Cape Fear Area (HFCFA), the local affiliate in southeastern NC, transports veterans to Washington D.C. once a year, on an all-expenses-paid flight, to see the World War II, Korean War, and Vietnam War memorials.

The Honor Flights Network was founded in 2005 by a physician’s assistant in Ohio named Earl Morse. He was determined to help an elderly patient, a veteran of World War II, who had no way to get to Washington to see the new monument. Morse developed a plan to transport his patient to Washington, along with several other World War II vets from the area, by recruiting a team of volunteer pilots, each willing to donate the use of a  private plane for the mission. The inaugural Honor Flight flew 12 World War II veterans in seven small planes to see the new memorial. It was a mission of gratitude that provided veterans with a community of support. Today, there are more than 128 independent Honor Flight “hubs” throughout the country, run entirely by volunteers. More than 300,000 veterans have been flown to Washington since the inception of this amazing program.

Wilmington resident Ruth Ravitz Smith established Honor Flights of the Cape Fear Area (HFCFA) five years ago. Ruth, a New York native, spent much of her professional career working in government and public affairs in the Washington area, where a military presence was part of everyday life.

“Seeing them every day, I always felt a certain respect for people who serve our country,” Ruth said.

Ruth remembers the first time she encountered an Honor Flight arriving at Reagan International Airport. “I was at the airport on my way to see a friend in Connecticut, when I heard all this commotion. There was a band playing and people cheering. It turned out to be an Honor Flight arriving and there were all these people there to greet the veterans and cheer them on. It just really tugged at my heart.”

Ruth began going to Reagan International to join the hundreds of volunteers welcoming veterans back from subsequent trips.

When she and her husband moved to Wilmington in 2015, where she held a position as Chief Communications Officer for New Hanover County, Ruth learned that there had been an Honor Flight “hub” in Wilmington, but it had disbanded a few years back. When she retired in 2019, Ruth made it her mission to restart the group. The Honor Flight of the Cape Fear Region was officially recognized by the network in 2020, just at the COVID-19 pandemic hit.

“We were disappointed, but it actually gave us the time we really needed to build the non-profit into a strong organization” Ruth said.

In the spring of 2022, as the world slowly returned to normal, the HFCFA’s first flight took off. The group has made one flight each year since, increasing the number of veterans taken each year. In 2025, HFCFA flew 85 veterans to Washington, along with 85 “guardians,” plus a small medical crew and a small crew of volunteer coordinators.

It’s a long day, requiring military-strength stamina. Veterans are flown to Washington on a chartered commercial plane in the morning, where they are met by four buses and a team of volunteer tour guides. They visit the World War II Memorial, the Navy Memorial, the Air Force Memorial, the Iwo Jima memorial, the Changing of the Guard at Arlington Ceremony, the Korean War Memorial, and the Vietnam War Memorial. Accommodations are made for veterans who need wheelchair services. The buses pass by several other monuments along the route. Meals are provided, then they catch an evening flight back home to Wilmington, where a welcoming committee meets them.

The welcome back ceremony is a joyful celebration that brings many veterans to tears, after a long, emotional day.  Ruth estimates there were about 1,000 people to greet the return flight last spring, including a local high school band, members of the military, various groups and individual volunteers.

“We encourage people to join the welcome home ceremonies at Wilmington International Airport.  Part of our goal is to educate the public about the service and sacrifices our veterans endure on our behalf, and this gives them an opportunity to express their gratitude,” she said.

Ruth recalls a particularly emotional Honor Flight a few years back, when a veteran named Craig Kern embarked on his Honor Flight. Kern, a pilot himself, was one of the original pilots who volunteered to fly his private plane to take veterans to Washington during the startup of the program in 2005. This time around, he was receiving the honor himself. Now living in the Wilmington area, Kern still volunteers to help honor other veterans every year.

All veterans on an Honor Flight is accompanied by a guardian who serves as an escort for the day, ensuring their safety and assisting them on and off the bus at the memorials. HFCFA does not allow spouses or significant others to serve as guardians, however, other family members or friends are encouraged to apply for the role. The aim with guardians is for them to experience the emotional impact of the event and hopefully allow them to develop a deeper understanding of the sacrifices endured by their loved ones. Alternatively, veterans can opt to be matched with volunteer guardians.  Guardians are asked to make a donation to help defray the cost of the Honor Flight.

Honor Flights require year-round planning and fundraising. Ruth estimates that it takes more than 100 volunteers to make the day a success. Costs are steep to cover the chartered commercial plane and pilot, the buses in Washington, meals, and other expenses. American Airlines has been a terrific partner to HFCFA for the last few years, according to Ruth. Donations come from foundations and corporate sponsors, including G.E. Aerospace and Novant Health, along with numerous local businesses, civic organizations, groups, and individuals.

Applications for Honor Flights in the Cape Fear area are taken year-round through the group’s website, www.honorflightcfa.org.  The 2026 flight is expected to be in mid-late April. The exact date will be announced in early November 2025, so be sure to check the website.

To learn more about the program, make a donation, or to volunteer, visit  www.honorflightcfa.org

For more information, email info@honorflightCFA.org or call 910-344-1050