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For Guardians

Walk beside them.

Honor Flight would not be possible without guardians. A guardian stays with one veteran for the entire day — at the airport, in D.C., and on the flight home. Your presence is the recognition.

Honor Flight veterans at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington National Cemetery

Who

Anyone can apply. Some are better suited than others.

We are actively seeking guardians with medical training or experience assisting seniors. Many of our veterans are non-ambulatory or use mobility devices. Empathy and a steady presence matter more than physical strength.

The day

What a guardian does,
hour by hour.

You are paired with one veteran before the trip. You stay with them — at the airport, on the plane, at every memorial, on every transfer — until they are back in the arms of their family at the end of the night.

  1. 01

    At the airport

    Meet your veteran curbside. Help with luggage, ID, and boarding. Help them relax before takeoff — most have not flown in decades.

  2. 02

    On the flight

    Sit together. Talk. Some veterans have stories they have never told; others want quiet. Stay present either way.

  3. 03

    At the memorials

    Navigate the steps, manage the wheelchair, stay close. Help them hold a hand on the wall of names, if they need it.

  4. 04

    On the way home

    Stay with them until they are picked up at the home airport. Bring photos you took all day — they will ask.

The cost

$600 covers
your seat, fully.

Guardians are responsible for paying their own way. The fee covers your chartered flight, your seat on the D.C. bus tour, lunch, and a commemorative Honor Flight shirt.

A small price — almost always called a bargain — for one unforgettable day with a member of our Greatest Generation.

Download Guardian ApplicationAsk a Question

How to apply

Four steps. About four weeks.

  1. 01

    Email us for an application

    Send a note to honorflightofsouthcarolina@gmail.com and we will send you the 2026 Guardian Application form.

  2. 02

    Return the completed form

    Do not send payment yet. The committee reviews every application personally.

  3. 03

    Wait for our four-week match

    Selected guardians are notified approximately four weeks before the flight, paired with a specific veteran, and walked through every detail.

  4. 04

    Pay your $600 and arrive

    You will pay your own expenses on the flight. Arrive at the meeting point early. Bring comfortable shoes and a steady presence.

Guardians are contacted as flight needs arise.

Once you are in our guardian pool we will reach out for upcoming flights. If we do not have a flight for you this cycle, we will keep your application on file for the next.

Next flight
September 16, 2026

Applications are open now. Selected guardians will be notified approximately four weeks before flight day.