Guardians

Guardian and Veteran standing in front of a memorial
Guardian and Veteran standing in front of a memorial

Guardians are essential to the success of the Honor Flight Network Program. Without these volunteers we would not be able to carry out the dreams of so many veterans, enabling them to see the memorials built in their honor.

The veteran's safety and health are our primary concern and Honor Flight Kentucky requires applicants adhere to strict Guardian guidelines. Guardian duties include physically assisting veterans at the airport, during the flight, and at the memorials.

In order to serve as a guardian, preferred applicants should be between 18-65 years of age. Applicants outside the preferred age range may be considered. In addition spouses and significant others may not serve as guardians. Guardians should be intellectually, physically, and emotionally capable of caring for their veteran. We reserve the right to refuse any guardian application. All Guardians must agree to make a tax deductible $600 donation to Honor Flight Kentucky to help defray the costs of flying Veterans for free.

Please note that Guardian Training is mandatory to assume the responsibilities as a qualified Guardian before participating on a mission.

By submitting your application, you are agreeing to the following statement:
As a Guardian, I agree to donate the sum of $600.00, as determined by the Honor Flight Kentucky’s Board of Directors, to offset the costs (airfare, meals, insurance, charter bus, police escort, t-shirt, and ancillary items) incurred by my participation in an Honor Flight Mission. The current $600 donation covers the cost of flights scheduled in 2024. This amount is subject to change as the cost of flights in 2025 and beyond will likely change. As a 501(c)(3) Charity as determined by the IRS, your donation is tax deductible and shall be acknowledged by the Honor Flight Kentucky hub.

Before submitting a Guardian application, please ensure you meet the requirements below:

  1. Yes, I would like to fly out of Blue Grass Airport, Lexington, KY. (If not, please visit www.honorflight.org for other hubs)
  2. I am not applying to be a Guardian for my spouse.

Please note: Do not use the return key until you have completed the entire application. Use your mouse cursor or the tab key to navigate between data entry fields.

Note: In the future, if any of the information you provide in your application changes, please contact us via email at info@honorflightky.org.

Currently, the REAL ID enforcement goes into effect May 7, 2025 at which time a Kentucky driver's license with a black star must be used at airport security checkpoints for U.S. commercial air travel. If you do not have a Real ID, other Government issued ID's, such as military retiree issued ID cards or Passports are sufficient for airport security checkpoints.

Guardian online application