On Saturday, Armed Forces Day, about 100 World War II veterans will leave the Valdosta Regional Airport to visit their memorial in Washington, D.C.

It is called Honor Flight: An expense-free trip for registered World War II veterans for a day in D.C. A small way to thank the vanishing generation of World War II veterans who saved the world from totalitarianism and imperialism across the globe more than 60 years ago.

This will be Honor Flight South Georgia’s third trip from Valdosta. It is expected to be its last from our area.

Prior to the last two Honor Flight trips, a few registered veterans had to drop out for various reasons. With World War II veterans mostly in their 80s and 90s, those reasons were often health concerns.

For this trip, organizers have dealt with even more veterans who have had to drop out for various reasons. Organizers have tapped almost all of the registered veterans waiting on the reserve list for this trip.

While there are still many Valdosta-Lowndes County veterans on this trip, many are from other areas, throughout the state and the South. And, as the mission comes to an end in the Greater Valdosta region, through Honor Flight South Georgia’s Buddy Johnson, who is on the program’s national board and director of its Southeast operations, will continue Honor Flight’s work throughout the state and the South.

He will stress Honor Flight’s urgency. The same urgency that seems to be underscored by this weekend’s third, final trip: Time is working its toll on the Greatest Generation.

Honor Flight has been a grand opportunity to thank these veterans for their service, dedication and sacrifice.

And remember, you can thank them this weekend with your presence. Come to the Valdosta Regional Airport between 7:15-8:45 a.m. Saturday to see them off, and come out 8:30-9:30 p.m. Saturday to welcome their return.

They saved the world. They deserve a hero’s welcome.