Second Annual Patriot Flight Takes Off Sept. 26

ROSWELL, GA -- Roswell first responders will be honored next week with an all-expense paid trip to the 9/11 Memorial in New York City. The 2nd Annual Patriot Flight will be held Tuesday, Sept. 26, and is part of an ongoing effort to "show thanks to the brave men and women who serve the community everyday, keeping our citizens safe and responding to emergencies," said State Sen. John Albers, a Republican of Roswell who organizes the trip.

Modeled after the Honor Air Program, which takes American veterans to visit historical and war memorial sites in the nation’s capital, the Patriot Flight has been set up to recognize and thank our first responders.

Once in the Big Apple, the first responders will go up Freedom Tower, tour the memorial and meet with their counterparts in New York City. A police escort in both Georgia and New York is provided as well as a water salute of the airplane by the Atlanta Fire Department (SIGN UP: Get Patch's Daily Newsletter and Real Time News Alerts. Or, if you have an iPhone, download the free Patch app).

The community is encouraged to show its support for the event with an early morning send-off for the heroes. Residents are encouraged to meet at the corner of Woodstock Road and Canton Street to cheer and wave flags at 5:30 a.m. If you are a night owl, a second option will be to welcome these heroes back home at the Roswell Area Park gymnasium at 11:25 p.m.

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The Patriot Flight was organized by Albers, an active firefighter, and Rotary Club of Roswell President Jeff McCoy along with committee members Gene Beckham, Alicia Hughes, Bethany Flowers, Roswell Police Chief Rusty Grant and Roswell Fire Chief Ricky Burnette.

For more information about the Patriot Flight, you can visit the website for the initiative.

Images via John Albers