Southwest Florida Honor Flight to Depart from Sarasota-Bradenton Airport for First Time on October 14, 2025
Southwest Florida Honor Flight is proud to announce its upcoming Mission XXIII to Washington, D.C. on Tuesday, October 14, 2025, marking a historic first-ever departure from Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport (SRQ).
This milestone mission will transport 90 local veterans — including 16 female veterans — on a one-day journey to visit the memorials built in their honor. Veterans on this flight represent multiple generations of service: including 1 from World War II, 9 from the Korean War, and the remainder from the Vietnam War, Cold War, and other service eras. The trip is offered entirely free of charge to all veterans as a heartfelt thank-you for their dedication and sacrifice. The majority of the veterans will be from Sarasota, Bradenton, Venice, Lakewood Ranch, Parrish, Ellenton, Palmetto areas.
Of special note, we 4 brothers who served before, during and post Vietnam will be honored on the flight. As well as, a husband, wife, son and veteran dog spanning Vietnam and Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF/OEF) and a Father, Daughter and Grandson veteran trio, to exclamation point the day.
“Our mission has always been to honor America’s veterans, and we are thrilled to be adding Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport for the very first time, in addition to our spring flights from Punta Gorda Airport” said Naomi Horton Copeland, President of Southwest Florida Honor Flight. “Expanding our operations to SRQ helps us better reach veterans in the northern portion of our 7 counties, creating more opportunities to say ‘thank you’ in a truly meaningful way.”
Mission XXIII will be Horton Copeland’s 26th honor flight, a personal mission after she served as her WWII Father-in-Law's guardian on his honor flight on Veterans Day, November 11, 2010 with Honor Flight of the Quad Cities. That day she saw the healing, appreciation and change in the WWII veterans honored at their memorials. She has made it her mission to serve the veterans, as a daughter of a Korean Army veteran, wife of an Air Force Vietnam era veteran, mother of 2 US Navy veterans and Aunt to one of the newest US Navy Chief Petty Officers, service to our nation runs deep in her veins.
The day begins with an early 0400 arrival at SRQ for the veterans, guardians and flight crew, followed by a full day in Washington, D.C., where veterans will be honored at each of the national memorials commemorating their service. Ceremonial tributes throughout the day will include:
A flag folding ceremony at several memorials by SWFL Honor Flight Honor Guard
A live bugler tribute at the WWII memorial
Presentation of Korean Embassy Ambassador of Peace medals to the Korean veterans who were in country during the conflict
A Women’s Military Memorial service record presentation recognizing the contributions of female veterans at the Military Women’s Memorial
Throughout the day, veterans will visit the World War II Memorial, Korean War Veterans Memorial, Vietnam Veterans Memorial, and Arlington National Cemetery, including the Changing of the Guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington National Cemetery. They will return home to Sarasota the same evening to a hero’s welcome. All of this is orchestrated and prepared over many months in advance by Horton Copeland and her team of hub volunteers. While the day comes off as flawless, precision planning is necessary.
Public Invited to Festive "Welcome Home" Celebration at SRQ
The public is warmly invited to join in welcoming the veterans home at Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport on the evening of Tuesday, October 14. Festivities begin at 7:30 PM, and attendees are encouraged to arrive early to enjoy the patriotic celebration and line the terminal hallways. “We have hundreds, I sometimes say thousands, when we return to Punta Gorda, and I hope that we FILL the entire Sarasota-Bradenton Airport – I am asking the community to please don’t let the veterans down, they so deserve this welcome home. Girl Scout, Boy Scout, car clubs, local schools, homeschool groups, small church groups, plus 55 homeowner associations – everyone is encouraged to come out and say welcome home and thank you.”
Please help make this homecoming unforgettable by:
Carpooling, if possible, due to limited parking
Wearing red, white, or blue
Bringing homemade welcome signs, American flags, and plenty of cheers and gratitude
Veterans and Guardians Encouraged to Apply
If you know a veteran who has not yet taken their Honor Flight, please encourage them to apply. We are also always accepting applications for volunteer guardians who accompany veterans on their journey.
Both veteran and guardian applications can be found at:
http://www.swflhonorflight.org
Forms may be downloaded and mailed, but we encourage they be completed online.
Applicants are placed on a waitlist, with priority given to WWII, Korean War, and terminally ill veterans, and then selected by date the application was received. The current waitlist is approximately three flights.
Help Us Fund More Flights
As a 100% non-profit organization, all fundraising is done locally, at a grassroots level. Funding is critical to continuing and expanding these missions. With additional support, Southwest Florida Honor Flight could add a third flight each year, allowing us to honor another 90–100 veterans annually. Each flight is made possible entirely by donations and community support and is approximately $118,000 in expenses. If you are a business, organization or individual that would like to financially contribute, no amount is too small or too large. We encourage veterans and families who have been a recipient of honor flight to remember Southwest Florida Honor Flight in their legacy.
To donate or become a sponsor, please visit:
http://www.swflhonorflight.org/donate
To request a Southwest Florida Honor Flight Ambassador make a presentation to your group, organization or business, please email: swflhonorflight@gmail.com with the date, time, name of group, and location.
About Southwest Florida Honor Flight
Southwest Florida Honor Flight is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to honoring America’s veterans by flying them to Washington, D.C. to visit the memorials built in their honor. Each veteran is paired with a volunteer guardian, who pays a nominal fee, to ensure a safe, comfortable, and meaningful experience throughout the day. Guardians should be able to handle the rigors of the day of serving a Veteran on their honor flight.
To volunteer: please email: swflhonorflight@gmail.com
Mission XXIII marks the 23rd mission for the organization — and the first-ever departure from Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport.