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Article published Jun 2, 2009 HonorAir honored for service to veterans Next HonorAir trip slated Oct. 17
From Staff Reports
Eddie Mannis, president of Prestige Cleaners and chairman of HonorAir Knoxville, was the recipient of two awards on Memorial Day for his work in honoring World War II veterans.
Doug Hays, commander of American Legion Post 2, presented Mannis the Lester Speeks Award at the Memorial Day Service at the East Tennessee State Veterans Cemetery. The award is presented annually to a member of the community who has demonstrated concern for and dedication to the support of veterans. Mannis also received the Chairman's Award at the annual Fountain City Day celebration.
HonorAir Knoxville honors East Tennessee World War II veterans who have not seen the World War II Memorial by taking them on an all-expense-paid trip to see the memorial built in their honor. To date the program has flown over 500 veterans to Washington, D.C.Mannis announced the organization will take its sixth flight on Oct. 17. The flight will depart at about 9 a.m. from McGhee Tyson Airport and land at Reagan National Airport. Buses will transport the veterans and escorts to the World War II Memorial. The group will tour other monuments in the Washington, D.C. area, including the Vietnam and Korean War Memorials, the Air Force Memorial Arlington National Cemetery and the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. Box lunches will be served.
The flight will arrive back at McGhee Tyson Airport around 7:30 p.m.
Veterans interested in taking a trip with HonorAir should call 865-938-7707 or visit www.honorairknoxville.com and download a veteran application. Each flight accommodates l03 veterans. Reservations will be made on a first-come basis. If the response exceeds the allotted space, veterans will be placed on a waiting list for a future flight.
Prestige Cleaners is the presenting sponsor and coordinator of the project and Covenant Health and Home Federal Bank have been Platinum sponsors on the last five flights. According to Mannis, "Each flight costs approximately $500 per veteran. The program is very dependent on funding from the community. In addition to sponsoring the flights, Prestige pays all administrative costs so every dollar donated is applied directly to the cost of the flight."
Businesses or individuals interested in supporting HonorAir should make checks out to Rotary Foundation of Knoxville, a 501 (c) (3) organization, and mailed to Rotary Foundation of Knoxville, 625 Market Street, Suite 1400, Knoxville, TN 37902.
Donations may also be made via PayPal on the HonorAir Website. All sponsoring individuals and organizations will be listed on the Website and in a commemorative book distributed to the participating veterans and volunteers.