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May 25, 2011 – More than 90 World War II veterans from northwest Arkansas visited the World War II Memorial in Washington, D.C. Saturday, May 21, as part of a trip Tyson Foods, Inc. helped fund and organize.

The trip, called “Honor Flight,” was planned in coordination with a national organization called the Honor Flight Network, which was established to “transport America's veterans to Washington, D.C. to visit those memorials dedicated to honor their service and sacrifices.”

Through Tyson’s involvement and the support of the Wal-Mart Foundation and others, a commercial jet was chartered to fly the veterans free of charge from Northwest Arkansas Regional Airport to Washington D.C. and back.  More than 40 volunteer guardians and medical personnel were also on the flight, bringing the total number of people on the trip to 145.

The veterans on the trip saw the World War II Memorial, as well as other military memorials, during their day in the nation’s capital. 

More than 150 people welcomed the veterans’ home when they returned late Saturday from the nation’s capital to the Northwest Arkansas Regional Airport.  The crowd included family members, other military veterans, students and Tyson employees.  They cheered and applauded the returning veterans as they moved through the airport terminal.

Organizers hope to schedule another Honor Flight for later this year.  Anyone who wants to donate money to the Northwest Arkansas Honor Flight program or has interest in volunteering, should call, e-mail or send a letter to Bill McKenzie.  His contact information is below:

Bill McKenzie, Tyson Aviation

10475 Tyson Place

Bentonville, AR 72712

479-290-5039

william.mckenzie@tyson.com

For more information on the Honor Flight Network, click on the following internet link:

http://www.honorflight.org/about/index.cfm