Veterans honored with send-off to WWII Memorial Published Oct. 17, 2012 By 1st Lt. Angela Walz 162nd Fighter Wing Public Affairs TUCSON, Ariz. -- Members of the 162nd Fighter Wing gave a heroes' send-off Oct. 16 to World War II Veterans as they embarked on a journey from Tucson to visit the WWII Memorial in Washington, D.C. Honor Flight of Southern Arizona sponsored the all-expense-paid trip for approximately 25 veterans. "Our mission is to honor and thank those veterans - especially our WWII veterans - by bringing them to Washington, D.C., for a day of honor at no cost to them," said the Honor Flight website. "This is especially important because the number of our World War II veterans is dwindling. Some of them have never seen the memorial that was built in our nation's capital in their honor," said Lt. Col. Sandy Wilson, 162nd Fighter Wing Headquarters Squadron Commander. Members of the 162nd Fighter Wing plan to hold a similar parade when the veterans return to Tucson Oct. 18. Those who wish to attend are asked to be in place at the American Airlines arrival area at the Tucson International Airport by 5:30 p.m. to welcome home the veterans as they deplane from American Airlines flight 823 from Washington, D.C.