then Add to Home Screen.
WASHINGTON, D.C. (March 12, 2026) — A new National Guard Educational Foundation program will cover the cost for most NGAUS members to escort veterans traveling on Honor Flight trips to Washington, D.C., to visit memorials that commemorate their service.
Honor Flight Guardians stay with their assigned veterans for the entire trip, providing physical assistance, logistical support and companionship throughout the journey. Veterans pay nothing for the trip, thanks to a long list of sponsors, but Guardians usually donate $400 or more for the experience.
The George and Charlotte Demetriades Guardian Program, which is administered by the NGEF in conjunction with the Honor Flight Network, will cover that expense for NGAUS active-annual, active-life and digital-life members.
George Demetriades Jr., the son of George and Charlotte Demetriades, is underwriting the program. He is an Iraqi War veteran who served in both the Maryland and Tennessee Army National Guard. He now owns and operates two Chick-fil-A restaurants in Arlington, Virginia.
“The George and Charlotte Demetriades Guardian Program reflects the very heart of our mission, bringing generations of service members together to honor the sacrifices of our veterans,” said Theresa Werner, the chairman of the board of the Honor Flight Network.
“By enabling members of the National Guard to serve as Guardians, this program not only supports our veterans on their journey to Washington, D.C., but also strengthens the enduring bond between those who have served our nation in different eras,” she added.
George Demetriades Jr. said he is honoring his late mother, a teacher, and his late father, a former North Carolina National Guard officer, by joining two organizations that “are a big part of my life — the National Guard and Honor Flight.”
“I believe it’s critically important, especially for our younger Guard leaders, to meet and learn from those who came before us,” he said. “And this program will remove the financial barrier for most NGAUS members currently serving in the National Guard to be an Honor Flight Guardian.”
Honor Flights began in May 2005 when a retired Air Force captain Earl Morse organized the first trips using private planes to take World War II veterans from Springfield, Ohio, to Washington, D.C., to see their memorials. A few years later, businessman Jeff Miller collaborated with Morse to expand the program nationwide, creating the Honor Flight Network.
Today, the Honor Flight Network brings approximately 22,000 veterans annually to the nation’s capital. Nearly 40,000 are currently on waitlists to join a flight. Many have never been to Washington, D.C.
Flights are organized by over 130 active Honor Flight Hubs across 46 states. The NGEF pays the Hub directly from the Guardian Program for space on the plane and expenses in Washington, D.C. Most Honor Flight trips are one-day trips.
Veterans typically visit the World War II Memorial, Korean War Veterans Memorial, Vietnam Veterans Memorial and Arlington National Cemetery for the Changing of the Guard. Many Honor Flight trips also include stops at the Marine Corps War Memorial, Air Force Memorial, Navy Memorial, Military Women’s Memorial and the Pentagon Memorial.
“This program will provide some unforgettable experiences,” said retired Maj. Gen. Francis M. McGinn, the NGAUS/NGEF president. “The Guardians will learn what service was like during the Korean and Vietnam War eras. And I’m sure the veterans will be curious about things today. The shared bonds of uniformed service will close the generation gap very quickly.”
The NGEF first announced the program in early January. Several association members have already applied through their local Hub and have a seat on an upcoming flight, said Luke Guthrie, the NGEF director.
Honor Flight trips are set to resume regularly later this month after taking a break for the winter.
More information, including application procedures and a list of 2026 scheduled Honor Flight trips, is available at www.ngef.org/demetriades-honor-flight-guardian-program.
Reporters, Editors & Producers: Retired Maj. Gen. Francis M. McGinn is available for interviews or to appear as a subject matter expert on issues related to the National Guard. Contact John Goheen at 202-408-5882 to schedule an interview or appearance.
About NGAUS: The association includes nearly 45,000 current or former Guard officers. It was created in 1878 to provide unified National Guard representation in Washington. In their first productive meeting after Reconstruction, militia officers from the North and South formed the association with the goal of obtaining better equipment and training by educating Congress on Guard requirements. Today, 148 years later, NGAUS has the same mission.
About NGEF: The foundation preserves and tells all 390 years of the National Guard story. Independent of NGAUS but co-located in the National Guard Memorial, the association’s headquarters in Washington, it relies solely on charitable contributions to carry out its mission. More information is available at www.ngef.org.
