Freedom Honor Flight announces fall 2025 flight date
Freedom Honor Flight will make its 33rd trip to Washington D.C. on Saturday, September 13, 2025, flying veterans to see the memorials built in their honor.
Since the organization was founded in 2008, Freedom Honor Flight has flown more than 3,000 veterans to our nation’s capital. The organization is currently flying veterans of WWII, Korea and Vietnam with the majority of those veterans coming from the Vietnam era. The single-day itinerary includes a welcome in Washington, D.C., and visits typically include the WWII Memorial, the Korean War Veterans Memorial, Vietnam Veterans Memorial, the National 9/11 Pentagon Memorial, Arlington National Cemetery and other sites via luxury motorcoaches.
More than 500 veterans are on a waitlist to fly from La Crosse. Freedom Honor Flight receives no government funding and relies on individual donors and organizations to continue its mission. Each flight costs around $140,000. “While we have extremely generous donors, with rising costs and inflation, we’ll need increased support from the community in order to continue operating these flights,” said Freedom Honor Flight Board President Pat Stephens.
You can donate here.
Join the Memorial March 2025 to raise funds for Freedom Honor Flight
We’re excited to share news of an upcoming community event that will directly benefit Freedom Honor Flight! The Driftless CrossFit Memorial March 2025 is a dedicated community fitness fundraiser designed to honor our heroes and provide crucial support for our mission.
Mark your calendars! This inspiring event will take place on Saturday, May 24th at 9:30 a.m. Participants should gather at Driftless CrossFit, located at N6172 Cty Rd. XX in Onalaska, which will serve as both the starting and finishing point for the 5-mile run, walk or ruck along the beautiful Halfway Creek Trail. Join fellow community members as they participate in remembrance and contribute to taking more veterans to Washington, D.C., to see the memorials built in their honor.
Your participation or support helps us continue providing these life-changing trips at no cost to our deserving veterans. We hope to see you there!
Learn about Freedom Honor Flight at free Sparta event
The Sparta Free Library is hosting an event to educate the public about Freedom Honor Flight. Past President of Freedom Honor Flight, Bill Hoel, will be presenting the history of the organization and its impact on veterans. Bill has been a member of the Board of Directors since the group’s beginning and has gone on several of its 32 flights. Attendees will learn what an honor flight is like from an expert.
The event will take place on Monday, June 16th at 5:30 p.m. at the Sparta Free Library, located at 124 W. Main St.
Everyone is welcome to attend!
32nd Freedom Honor Flight takes off Saturday, May 3
Organizers are preparing for Freedom Honor Flight’s 32nd trip to honor veterans by flying them to Washington D.C., to see the memorials built in their honor. Since the organization was founded in 2008, Freedom Honor Flight has flown more than 2,800 veterans to our nation’s capital. The single-day itinerary includes a welcome in Washington, D.C., and visits typically include the WWII Memorial, the Korean War Veterans Memorial, Vietnam Veterans Memorial, Lincoln Memorial, the National 9/11 Pentagon Memorial, Arlington National Cemetery and other sites via luxury motorcoaches.
Eager flyers include one World War II veteran, two Korean War Era veterans and 99 veterans from the Vietnam War Era. They fly for free, joined by volunteer guardians who pay their own way to assist the veterans on this “trip of a lifetime.”
The public is welcome at the morning sendoff and evening welcome-home ceremonies. All ground activities are held at Colgan Air, Hangar 4, La Crosse Airport. Ample parking and shuttle service available.
For the morning sendoff, hangar doors open at 5:30 a.m. A brief ceremony at approximately 6:15 a.m. precedes the American Airlines charter flight, set to depart at 6:50 a.m. The popular welcome-home ceremony features the Sparta High School marching band. Hangar doors open at 7:30 p.m. The flight is expected to return between 9 and 10 p.m.
Freedom Honor Flight relies solely on the public’s generosity and urgently needs help to continue operating these flights. “There are still more than 450 veterans on a waiting list, just to fly out of our hub in La Crosse. If we want to get them all to D.C., we’ll need the community’s continued support. Please consider making a donation to provide a memorable and meaningful trip for more veterans, just like the 102 flying on May 3,” said Freedom Honor Flight Board President Kevin Kuchar.
Important information about your ID when you fly
Please be aware of important changes to Federal ID requirements, beginning with Freedom Honor Flight’s trip to Washington, D.C., in the fall of 2025. The Department of Homeland Security will require all travelers 18 and older to have a REAL ID, passport or an acceptable alternative for domestic air travel.
This does not affect our May 3 flight as the new REAL ID requirements go into effect on May 7, 2025. For more information, visit The Department of Homeland Security website.
