The Hastings Mutual Insurance Company Charitable Foundation recognizes the contributions of nonprofit organizations in the communities we serve. Each month, we’ll honor one of those organizations as our Nonprofit of the Month.

In November, about 80 military veterans will be on a flight to Washington, D.C. When they land in the nation’s capital, they’ll visit the memorial for the war or military action they served in — World War II, Korea, Vietnam, and those who are terminally ill. It’s one last mission for those who served their country, and it’s what Talons Out Honor Flight of southwest Michigan does.

Veterans are transported to the airport by law enforcement and rescue staff. A water cannon is fired over the plane before departure. When they land, they travel with a family member or other guest to a memorial — the Marine Corps War Memorial, the National World War II Memorial, the Korean War Veterans Memorial, and more. Once they return to Michigan, they receive thank you notes and letters from family and their community.

The entire journey is completely free to the veteran. Honor Flight is a national program, but the first flight for Talons Out was in 2013. More than 1,000 veterans have traveled to Washington since then.

Hastings Mutual has been a longtime partner of Talons Out; our employees wrote 500 thank you cards for veterans. The organization has three hubs in Michigan, and another 30 in the other five states where we offer insurance coverage.

Talons Out Honor Flight is supported by Hastings Mutual and Meiers Lombardini Lemanski. 

For more on the Talons Out program, visit their website.