Who We Are
Our Story
The Veterans Aviation Legacy Foundation was founded by Frank Garcia, a U.S. Army aviation mechanic who proudly served for twelve years, including deployment in Operation Iraqi Freedom. After his service, Frank earned his pilot’s license, a dream inspired by his late father, a Vietnam veteran who always wanted to fly again.
Before his father passed, he saw a video of Frank flying, but never experienced seeing him in the cockpit. That missed moment became Frank’s greatest motivation, to give other veterans and their families the opportunity he never had: to reconnect, to heal, and to experience the freedom of flight together.
Through the Veterans Aviation Legacy Foundation, Frank transformed personal loss into purpose. The foundation was built on one belief: that aviation can heal the invisible wounds of war. Flying provides more than adventure, it’s a space where veterans can rise above their challenges and rediscover a sense of freedom.
Our Mission
Our mission is to help our legacy vets and veterans coping with PTSD find healing, resilience, and community, while also educating families and friends to better understand and support their loved ones. Aviation provides a unique path forward: the freedom of the skies, the hands-on restoration of aircraft, and the power of shared experience.
We envision a world where no veteran or family walks this journey alone. Through flight experiences, restoration programs, and family education initiatives, the foundation will create safe spaces for healing, learning, and legacy-building.
While our programs are still taking shape, our vision is clear:
To build a fleet of restored aircraft, each one serving as a vessel of hope, history, and healing.
With your support, we will provide veterans the chance to fly, restore, and teach, transforming aviation into a living tribute to courage and community.
Your contributions today will help us acquire our first aircraft and launch our future programs: veteran flight experiences, family education workshops, and aircraft restoration projects that empower veterans and bring families closer together.
Looking Ahead
Our Guiding Values
Honor
Preserving the stories and service of those who have sacrificed for our freedom.
Healing
Using aviation as a tool for restoration; physically, emotionally, and spiritually.
Connection
Strengthening the bonds between veterans, their families, and their communities.
Legacy
Ensuring that every veteran’s story continues to inspire generations
to come.
