OCEAN CITY – The Shores will host an informational Honor Flight presentation at 10 a.m. Tuesday, July 1, led by Pam Pontano, who co-leads Honor Flight of Southern NJ alongside her husband, Ron.
The couple has personally overseen all 20 Honor Flight trips from southern New Jersey to Washington, D.C., coordinating every detail of the day — from the early morning send-off to the return celebration.
Honor Flight of Southern NJ is part of the national Honor Flight network, a nonprofit organization dedicated to honoring America’s veterans by providing them with a free, one-day trip to Washington. Veterans visit national war memorials and monuments built to honor their service, including the World War II Memorial, Korean War Memorial, Vietnam Veterans Memorial, Arlington National Cemetery, and other key sites.
The Honor Flight program is open to all U.S. military veterans who served on active duty. Priority is given to WWII veterans, followed by Korean War, Vietnam War and other service-era veterans as space allows. Veterans must be medically able to travel, and accommodations are available for those with mobility needs.
The presentation July 1 is open to all veterans and their families in the Ocean City area and surrounding communities who are interested in learning more about the Honor Flight program and how to apply for upcoming trips. In addition to providing information, the event will serve as an opportunity for local veterans to come together, enjoy breakfast, and be recognized and celebrated in honor of the upcoming Fourth of July holiday.
The next Honor Flight trip is scheduled for Thursday, Oct. 16, with an additional trip planned for April 2026. Trips depart from Williamstown High School in Gloucester County. Participants travel by chartered bus to Washington for a full day of scheduled activities, returning home that same evening. All expenses are fully covered for veterans.
Each veteran travels with a guardian who assists them throughout the trip. Applications for the upcoming trips will be available at the July 1 presentation.
For more information about Honor Flight of Southern NJ or to RSVP for the event, please visit: https://umcommunities.org/theshores/event/local-veterans-join-us-for-a-special-breakfast/join and join in at the event.
The Shores is at 2201 Bay Ave., Ocean City.