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Ford Fund Sponsors Honor Flight for 50 WWII Vets

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Honor Flight

Ford sponsored an Honor Flight that carried 50 WWII veterans to Washington, D.C. on Wednesday

June 6th marks the 70th anniversary of D-Day, and Ford is once again looking to help veterans honor their comrades by sponsoring an Honor Flight for the second year in a row. The flight, which took place Thursday, is the seventh that Ford has sponsored in three years.

50 World War II veterans from Cleveland and areas throughout Ohio will be flown to the WWII Memorial in Washington, D.C. on a trip organized by Honor Flight Cleveland (www.honorflightcleveland.com).

Ford Fund will cover all of the expenses for the veterans—all octogenarians or nonagenarians—who will be greeted at the memorial by Ford employees and members of Congress. All veterans will be accompanied to D.C. by a volunteer guardian, like Frankie Lannaggi from the Ford Cleveland Engine Plant.

“As a U.S. Marine, I am honored to participate in this great program and give back to the men and women who have given so much to our country and paved the way for the freedoms we have today,” said Lannaggi, “I am proud to be part of the Ford family who are recognizing these local veterans for their sacrifice and dedication.”

The veterans will also visit memorials commemorating those who served in the Korean War and Vietnam War, the Marine Corps/Iwo Jima War Memorial outside of Arlington National Cemetery, and the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.

This year, Ford Fund intends to sponsor three Honor Flights. Not including the flight from this past Wednesday, Ford has provided funding for six such flights since it began sponsoring Honor Flights in 2011. Since 1974, Ford Motor Company and Ford Motor Company Fund have provided more than $8 million to veteran organizations, including support for the National World War II Memorial.