To: Charles Winfrey, Human Services Committee Chairperson
From: Derrick L. Britton, Veterans Services Director
title
RE: Approval of a request by Genesee County's Department of Veteran Services to provide funding, in an amount not to exceed $20,000.00, to allow for continued Mid-Michigan Honor Flights for Genesee County Veterans
recommendation
BOARD ACTION REQUESTED:
Approval of funding in the amount of $20,000 to Mid-Michigan Honor Flight for operations, logistics, meals and travel of Genesee County Veterans for biannual flights to Washington D.C. to visit war memorials and connect with other veterans. The amount is to be paid from account number 2930-689.00-900.005/Community Relations.
BACKGROUND:
Mid-Michigan Honor Flight is a 100% volunteer-led non-profit organization dedicated to transporting World War II, Korean War, Vietnam War, and terminally ill veterans to Washington, D.C., to visit their war memorials completely free of charge. It is a registered 501c3 organization, which is an independent regional hub of the national Honor Flight Network. The organization handles all lodging, meals, flight logistics, and standard gear for the veterans, funding the trips entirely through public donations and local fundraisers. Veterans are required to travel with a “guardian,” who is often a veteran themselves. Guardians are responsible for physically assisting veterans prior to flight, during the flight, and during visits to the memorials.
DISCUSSION:
Mid-Michigan Honor Flight routinely has “missions” that fly from Bishop International Airport to Washington D.C. The most recent flight took place June 15-16, 2026, with another flight scheduled for September 15-16, 2026. Michigan’s first ever all women Honor Flight took place on June 11-12, 2024 from Bishop International Airport. On the previous flight, there were a total of 76 veterans, including 1 World War II veteran, 6 Korean War veterans, and 69 Vietnam War veterans.
IMPACT ON HUMAN RESOURCES:
None.
IMPACT ON BUDGET:
The amount is to be paid from account number 2930-689.00-900.005/Community Relations.
IMPACT ON FACILITIES:
None.
IMPACT ON TECHNOLOGY:
None.
CONFORMITY TO COUNTY PRIORITIES:
Mid-Michigan Honor flight builds community by bringing hundreds of local veterans, volunteers and citizens together to honor and heal aging heroes. While their mission is more social and historical rather than commercial, it generates localized economic activity by partnering with Bishop International Airport. Each mission costs approximately $150,000, much of which funnels into local and regional operations. The flights promote mental health, healing, and emotional closure for the veterans who visit the memorials dedicated to their service and honoring fellow service members who were lost during war. Community members who act as guardians during these flights help to foster intergenerational bonds that preserve local history and strengthen community ties. “Welcome Home” celebrations after the flights are attended by many community members for an emotional celebration that unites the public in gratitude for our local heroes, many of who did not receive a warm welcome back from war.
TO THE HONORABLE CHAIRPERSON AND MEMBERS OF THE GENESEE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS, GENESEE COUNTY, MICHIGAN
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN:
BE IT RESOLVED, by this Board of County Commissioners of Genesee County, Michigan, that the request by the Veterans Services Director to authorize entering into an agreement between Genesee County and Mid-Michigan Honor Flight, whereby the County will provide funding to the contractor for operations, logistics, meals, and travel for Genesee County veterans to take flights to Washington, D.C., to visit war memorials and connect with other veterans, in an amount not to exceed $20,000.00 to be paid from the Veterans Services millage account 2930-689.00-900.005, is approved (a copy of the memorandum request and supporting documents being on file with the official records of the July 15, 2026 meeting of the Human Services Committee of this Board), and the Chairperson of this Board is authorized to execute the contract after final approval from Corporation Counsel.