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HONOR FLIGHT OF EASTERN/PORTLAND OREGON (HFEO/HFPO)
FACT SHEET
Honor Flight of Eastern Oregon (HFEO) and Honor Flight of Portland Oregon (HFPO) are two of 137 regional
“hubs” in 42 states participating in the national Honor Flight Network (HFN) honoring WWII veterans by
taking them to Washington, DC to visit THEIR National WWII Memorial. HFEO and HFPO are managed by
the non-profit Bend Heroes Foundation, a 501 (c) (3) non-profit tax exempt organization.
The HFEO service area is all of Oregon east of the Cascades to the state borders. The HFPO hub serves WWII
Veterans living in Clatsop, Columbia, Washington, Multnomah, and Hood River Counties.
Over 120,000 WWII veterans from across our nation have participated in the HFN program launched 8 years
ago. WWII veterans travel free of charge in appreciation for their WWII service and sacrifice 7 decades
ago preserving our freedoms. “Guardians”assisting veterans pay the Foundation for their lodging, meals, and
bus/airline expenses – about $1,200 and subject to change.
Ninety three percent (93%) of the 16.1 million WWII veterans who served during WWII have passed away
since the end of WWII. The average age of the surviving 1.2 million WWII veterans is near 90. Our nation loses
650 WWII Veterans daily. Time is of the Essence to honor the “Greatest Generation”.
To travel on an Honor Flight trip, WWII veterans must 1. Have served anywhere between Dec. 7, 1941 and
December 31, 1946, 2. Live within our service areas, 3. Not have visited the national WWII Memorial in the
past, and 4. Be able to travel. We take veterans using wheelchairs, canes, walkers and oxygen. We encourage
veterans to have an able family member, relative or friend serve as a guardian. Terminally ill veterans of any
war are given top priority under certain conditions. We have trained medical staff on our trips.
Veterans and Guardians will visit the WWII Memorial, U.S. Capitol, Lincoln, Korea, Vietnam, FDR, Navy,
Air Force, Iwo Jima Memorial (Marines), Women in Military Service for America Museum and Tomb of the
Unknowns at Arlington National Cemetery. Our trips are 4 days in duration: a day traveling from Portland to
Washington, 2 full days in Washington, and a day returning to Portland (PDX). On the reverse side is a photo of
our group at the WWII Memorial on September 21, 2012.
During its first 3 years of operation with 8 visits to Washington, the Foundation has honored 307 WWII
Veterans from both service areas. Generally we take 50 WWII Veterans and 50 Guardians on trips during May
and September. The next “trip of a lifetime” is tentatively scheduled for May 28- June 1, 2014. A typical trip
can be viewed here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XXBWkuMh2v0 and
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V5OweslrZtQ
Tax deductible contributions sending more WWII Veterans to Washington, DC can be made on our web site:
www.bendheroes.org or sent to the address below. Application forms for WWII Veterans, Guardians and
Volunteers can be downloaded from our web site also.
For more information on the National Honor Flight program and Honor Flight of Eastern & Portland Oregon
please visit these web sites: www.honorflight.org/ and www.bendheroes.org
Contacts: Dick Tobiason, Chairman: Home 541.388.5591, Cell 541.390.9932, email:
dtobiason@bendcable.com Erik Tobiason, President: 541.617.6033, email etobiason@bendbroadband.com,
Yvonne Drury, Secretary: Cell 541.390.4231, yvonnedrury@hotmail.com
Bend Heroes Foundation,1900 NE 3rd St., Suite 106 #205, Bend, OR 97701
OVER
HONOR FLIGHT OF EASTERN & PORTLAND OREGON
AT NATIONAL WWII MEMORIAL IN WASHINGTON, DC
Sept. 21, 2012 photo by Michael Jensen, Vice President, Bend Heroes Foundation
Bend Heroes Foundation manages Honor Flight of Eastern Oregon and Honor Flight of Portland Oregon The Foundation
is recognized by the IRS as a 501 (c) (3) Public Charity and State of Oregon as a Public Intere st Not for Profit
Corporation, Tax ID 27-2071808.
Contributions to the Bend Heroes Foundation are tax deductible.
Many thanks to all donors for their generous support over the last 3 years honoring WWII Veterans
DT 11/24/13