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$157K raised for Rocky Mountain Honor Flight during 9NEWS telethon

The 9NEWS and Rocky Mountain Honor Flight fundraising telethon raised $157,217 by the end of the event. Thank you to everyone who donated!
Credit: KFMB

The 9NEWS and Rocky Mountain Honor Flight fundraising telethon raised $157,217.86 on Thursday, June 6. Thank you to everyone who donated!

Donations can still be made to the Rocky Mountain Honor Flight at this link.

A few times a year, a handful of Colorado veterans take the trip of a lifetime. They fly to Washington, D.C. to see the memorials celebrating their service and remember those who were lost. We're working to give that opportunity to even more veterans.

The Rocky Mountain Honor Flight organization needs about $60,000 for every trip. We want to help them by raising enough money to fill as many planes as possible.

DONATE NOW | Rocky Mountain Honor Flight

In the nation's capitol, the veterans will have the opportunity to visit the war memorial honoring their sacrifice, connect with comrades in arms, and receive the recognition of generations of grateful Coloradans.

Credit: Rocky Mountain Honor Flight

Each flight carries 28 veterans, their guardians and medical staff. All staff members are volunteers. And the trip is always free for veterans.

The first Rocky Mountain Honor Flight was in 2008. Since then, the chapter has made more than 30 trips with more than 1,000 World War II, Korean War and Vietnam War veterans.

Credit: Rocky Mountain Honor Flight

Top priority is given to the most senior heroes as well as those who are terminally ill. According to the organization, it's estimated 500 World War II veterans die every day. There are about 15,000 World War II veterans currently in Colorado.

Credit: Getty Images/iStockphoto
National World War II Memorial in Washington, D.C.

On the Honor Flight trip, veterans spend two days visiting sites in Washington, D.C. Stops include the World War II Memorial, Navy Memorial, Lincoln Memorial, Korean War Memorial, Vietnam Veterans Memorial, Washington Navy Yard, Arlington National Cemetery, Air Force Memorial, Marine Corps Memorial, Franklin D. Roosevelt and Martin Luther King Memorial.

Credit: Rocky Mountain Honor Flight

All Honor Flight funding comes from private donations. The organization does not accept government funding. All donations are tax deductible. All funds raised during the telethon go directly to organizing additional flights for Colorado veterans.

You can read more about the Rocky Mountain Honor Flight at RockyMountainHonorFlight.org.

DONATE NOW | Rocky Mountain Honor Flight

Credit: Rocky Mountain Honor Flight

WATCH | Far from home: The Rocky Mountain Honor Flight

WATCH | Voices of the Honor Flight

WATCH | Speaking with veterans on the Rocky Mountain Honor Flight

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