Residual federal pass-through COVID-19 relief funds could help secure passage for six Manteca veterans on future Honor Flights.

The suggestion, made by Manteca Councilman Mike Morowit, is to use up to $10,000 that wasn’t needed to complete city projects such as the cricket pitch at Doxey Park.

“It’s pretty moving to see,” Morowit said of the occasions he has seen veterans being honored by the Honor Flight organization in DC.

Honor Flight is an endeavor that flies America’s veterans who have been in war  to Washington, D.C., to “share in a day of honor at our nation’s memorials.

Participation in an Honor Flight trip gives veterans the opportunity to share the momentous occasion with other comrades, remember the fallen, and share their stories and experiences with other veterans.

Honored veterans always travel free of charge.

Typically, the veterans are honored by complete strangers when they arrive at airports as well as others they come across while visiting the memorials.

Originally the national non-profit endeavor was founded to honor World War II veterans.

It has since been expanded to include veterans from the Korean and Vietnam wars.

The vision of the Honor Flight association is to help the United States be a “nation where all of America’s veterans experience the honor, gratitude, and community of support they deserve.”

During the past 19 years, over 300,000 veterans have been transported to the nation’s capital.

The cost is roughly $1,500 per passenger.

City Manager Toni Lundgren, after the council indicated there was general consensus to explore such an expenditure, said that she would look at the funding and bring the request back to the council.

The $1,500 includes all costs including the hotel stay and dining as well as the flight itself.

To contact Dennis Wyatt, email dwyatt@mantecabulletin.com