Honor Flight to plan 4 flights

FINDLAY -- Flag City Honor Flight, a hub of the National Honor Flight Network, is planning, for the first time, four flights in 2023. One of the whirlwind flights between Toledo and Washington, D.C., will be an all-Vietnam era veterans trip sponsored by the Don Templin family in honor of Scott Atkins. The 2023 flights departing from the Grand Aire Terminal in Toledo will be April 18, June 13, Sept. 12 and Nov. 7. Flag City Honor Flight is now under the leadership of President and Flight Director Steve Schult, who recently retired from a local accounting firm. He replaces Bob Weinberg, who was president for Flag City Honor Flight for more than a decade. "There's no doubt in my mind that Steve Schult will make his mark as FCHF president and flight director," Weinberg said. "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. Weinberg will remain active and assist in 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," Schult said. "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 other veterans to submit applications. FCHF also needs "Guardians" for 2023 to serve as chaperones for the daylong visits to the memorials in the nation's capital. The Flag City Honor Flight serves veterans of World War II, the Korean War and the Vietnam wars. Due to the long waiting list of Vietnam veterans, the nonprofit offered its first all-Vietnam era flight last year, with a November endeavor sponsored by Findlay-based Ohio Logistics. This year's flight sponsored by the Templin family will be the second all-Vietnam-era trip. The organization hopes to offer more all-Vietnam era trips with the assistance of corporate and individual sponsors. Veterans and prospective guardians who have already applied do not have to do so again. The organization is also seeking people to volunteer their services. Veteran, guardian and volunteer applications are available at https://flagcityhonorflight.org/applications/.