Dear Editor:

Honor Flight Philadelphia's event on Sept. 9 was a huge success with 200 veterans and guardians participating. 

Honor Flight is a national organization created in 2005 to provide a day of recognition for veterans. There is no cost to the veteran. World War II and terminally ill veterans are given a priority to participate. The average age of a World War II veteran is 90 years.

The Philadelphia hub was started in 2011.

We'd like to thank the following for making the day a hit: Gentile's Market in Newtown Square; Swiss Farms; Wawa; St. Luke's Greek Orthodox Church; Vitas Innovative Hospice Care and Main Line Medical Supplies that provided the wheel chairs at no costs; The Greater Overbrook String Band who donated their music; Chick-fil-A; military re-enactor Neal Pizzano who portrayed a World War II era MP; Ruffenach Funeral Home which donated the wreath that was laid by the vets at Arlington National Cemetery; Just Born which provided the Peanut Chews; James Eman, the Marine Korean War veteran who provided the memorabilia for display; The Delaware County Intermediate Unit that allowed us parking at its Marple campus; County Councilman John McBlain, Congressman Chaka Fattah and Andrew Colket of Congressman Pat Meehan's office who were our speakers; the Marple Police Department; the Pennsylvania State Police; all police departments between Marple and Washington D.C. that provided us escorts; the Broomall and Newtown Square volunteer fire companies; the Delaware County Sheriff's Office; American Legion Manoa Post 667; Rolling Thunder and Warrior Watch motorcycle clubs who provided escorts; the volunteers who helped us set up and break down; and especially the Patch which gave us invaluable publicity.

We'd also like to thank Luigi and Giovanni of Newtown Square for the fantastic meal they catered.

If you know a World War II veteran who would be interested in participating in our next trip or would like to be a guardian or just want more information about Honor Flight Philadelphia please visit http://honorflightphiladelphia.org or the national site at http://www.honorflight.org/

Guardians are asked to make a contribution to help defray the $6,000 per busload cost.

Andrew Schiavello 
Springfield