Amplified: Honor Flight Southern Nevada’s April Trip Excludes WWII Veterans

LAS VEGAS — Honor Flight Southern Nevada’s upcoming April trip to Washington, D.C., will not include any World War II veterans, as no one signed up for the opportunity. This development highlights a growing challenge faced by organizations dedicated to honoring military service members.

Joe Vigil, a FOX5 reporter who has covered Honor Flight for years and has traveled on multiple flights, explained that the lack of participants is due to the dwindling number of living World War II veterans. According to data from the National World War II Museum in New Orleans, just over 45,000 World War II veterans are still alive as of 2025. This number is significantly lower than the 16 million or so who served during the war.

Vigil noted that this decline reflects the passage of time and the aging population of those who served. The organization is now focusing on other veterans, such as those from the Korean War and Vietnam War, for the April flight. The deadline for World War II veteran sign-ups has already passed, and the trip will proceed with these other groups.

Honor Flight Southern Nevada currently maintains a waiting list of approximately 400 people, with each flight accommodating around 35 veterans. The selection process prioritizes participants based on how long they have been waiting, their age, and their ability to travel. Each veteran is paired with a guardian who covers their own expenses and accompanies them throughout the entire trip.

The origins of Honor Flight can be traced back to a physician assistant and retired Air Force captain in Ohio. He flew one of his veteran patients to Washington at his own expense to see the World War II Memorial. The veteran reportedly said, “I would probably have no other way to go,” which marked the beginning of what is now a nationwide network.

There are now more than 100 nonprofit Honor Flight chapters across the United States. These chapters provide a meaningful experience for veterans, often involving a single-day trip. Veterans fly from their home city to Washington, tour war memorials by bus—including the World War II, Vietnam, and Korean War memorials—and return home the same day.

For many veterans, the trip is an emotionally significant event, especially when visiting the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall. Vigil described the experience as deeply moving for those who see the names of their fallen comrades.

Veterans are greeted with applause at airports on both ends of the trip. Vigil recalled the story of World War II veteran Daniel Chavez, who traveled on the 2024 Honor Flight Southern Nevada trip. As they approached the World War II Memorial, there was a lot of clapping and cheering, and some of his family was present. Chavez remarked, “To see this many people and all them applauding for little old me.”

For veterans who are unable to travel, Honor Flight Southern Nevada offers virtual reality tours using goggles that display the Washington memorials. While this experience is not the same as being there in person, it provides another way for veterans to connect with the memorials.

Those interested in getting involved can contact Honor Flight Southern Nevada through Facebook or by phone. Volunteers are also encouraged to show up at the airport to greet returning veterans. FOX5 will be traveling on the April flight, continuing its coverage of this important initiative.