Honor Flight Cleveland

Special Programs

TLC Program

The Honor Flight Cleveland’s primary mission is to fly World War II Veterans to Washington DC, to visit THEIR Memorial. Our primary focus is World War II Veterans because they are our nation’s most senior heroes. Across America, about 1,200 WWII Veterans pass away every day.

Another category of veterans we are equally concerned for are ALL those who served in uniform, who were recently diagnosed with a terminal illness. It is our mission to transport these veterans if they have never been able to visit the various national memorials constructed to honor the service and sacrifice of their brothers and sisters in arms. All such veterans, regardless of the conflict they participated in (Korea, Vietnam, Desert Storm, Iraqi Freedom, etc), who wish to visit our nation’s existing memorials, will be invited to do so. Specifically, this program includes ALL veterans, even younger veterans who participated in recent conflicts for which a national memorial does not exist. At Honor Flight Cleveland, we feel they all should have an opportunity to clearly see and appreciate how our nation honors those who were willing to lay down their very lives in service to our country. This special category of veterans we refer to as “TLC’s,” meaning “Their Last Chance”.

To determine if a veteran qualifies as a TLC, we apply the following criteria:

·     Provide a note, signed by a physician, with diagnosis and prognosis.

·     A current diagnosis of cancer, in any organ system EXCEPT the prostate (unless extremely aggressive, rare forms) is considered terminal if the physician concurs.

·     Acute Leukemia.

·     Presently undergoing chemotherapy or radiation therapy for a cancerous condition OTHER THAN prostate cancer.

·     Any other terminal condition that, according to the veteran’s private physician, is likely to limit the veteran’s life to 12 months or less. Again, the diagnosis and prognosis must be stated in a note signed by a physician.

NOTE: IF THE PHYSICIAN IS NOT WILLING TO STATE IN WRITING THAT THE TERMINAL CONDITION IS "LIKELY TO LIMIT THE VETERAN'S LIFE TO 12 MONTHS OR LESS", IT IS EXTREMELY DOUBTFUL THAT THE VETERAN QUALIFIES FOR OUR TLC PROGRAM.

It is our desire to show the respect so richly deserved to our deceased veterans and their families. Even though they will never see their memorial, we want to provide the families with the opportunity to know that their family member was shown the highest regard and respect at their memorial.

In order to do this, Honor Flight would obtain from the family and/or friends of the deceased veteran, the ceremonial American Flag that was presented to them during the funeral. We would then place the flag in a shadow box and take a 5 x 7 photo of the veteran and a copy of the obituary notice, if available, on one of our trips to the memorial in Washington, D.C. The veteran’s flag, their photo and items would be placed in front of their memorial and a photo taken. All items taken to Washington would be returned to the family after the trip.