In their honor: Honor Flight takes veterans to national war memorials

World War II, Korean and Vietnam War veterans from around the Big Bend flocked to the Tallahassee International Airport early Saturday morning to be flown to Washington, D.C., to tour the national war memorials and sites. 

The Tallahassee Honor Flight gives veterans the opportunity to travel to see the memorials built in honor of them and their fallen peers. The cost for the veterans is covered by donations and the guardians who pay to go on each trip to assist the veterans along their 19-hour journey. 

In the predawn darkness, a long line of American flags held by cheering Boy Scouts and volunteers led the way for the veterans to board the plane. 

Once in Washington, the first stop was the World War II Memorial. Among the more than six dozen veterans were five World War II veterans all in their 90s. 

“It’s beautiful,” said Joseph Giani, 93, a World War II veteran who served in the Army. “I never thought it was going to be like this. I just thought it was another commercial thing going on, but this is right for the veterans.” 

The memorial honors the 16 million who served and the more than 400,000 who lost their lives during the war. 

The Korean War Memorial was moving for many of the veterans who were a part of that war, and even for those who were not. The portraits etched into the stone were created from photographs taken during the war. 

“I’ve been to 32 countries around the world and I’ve never seen anything like this,” Darryl Stewart, a Vietnam War veteran who served in the Navy, said through tears. 

“It impresses me even more than the Vietnam War Memorial. It’s just wonderful what they do for us veterans, we really appreciate it.”

As the veterans made their way through the Vietnam War Memorial and the Lincoln Memorial, they took photos with their guardians, read about the history, and took in the moment. 

After a stop at the Marine Corps War Memorial, the group was off to the Air Force Memorial, which overlooks Washington, D.C. Three spires reach into the sky representing the Air Force Thunderbirds as they soar. 

Gail Davies who served for two years in the Air Force during the Vietnam War, was the only female veteran on the trip. 

“There weren’t many women who served in Vietnam…I didn’t talk about it for decades,” the 75-year-old said. “This is a totally unique experience for me … it feels healing.”

The final stop on the tour was the Arlington Cemetery to witness the changing of the guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Solider and the retiring of colors. 

Upon returning to the airplane hangar in Tallahassee, the veterans were welcomed home with a water salute from the fire department. A crowd of hundreds were on hand, eager to thank the veterans and welcome home their family members. 

The trip was a once in a life time experience for the veterans and a day they said they will never forget.