Our 114th flight and the second of the 2024 season saw 115 veterans travel together to Washington, D.C., on May 15. Among them were one WWII Veteran and one Korean War veteran. They were joined by 113 Vietnam Veterans, which is the most Vietnam heroes we have flown on a single flight since opening our doors to them in 2019.
Despite National Police Week falling the same time as this flight, we still had plentiful honor guards and a police escort in DC as well as a small but mighty pipe and drum corps leading the way during our Welcome Home parade.
For the second straight month, a local school met our veterans at the WWII Memorial. This month it was Westchester Middle School, which structured its entire day around saluting our veterans on the Mall!
We are accustomed to hearing the gratitude from our veterans and their families after they experience their Day of Honor, but this group’s appreciation of our efforts poured forth in real time. One bus captain remarked that he had never received so many hugs from veterans during the trip itself!
At the Wall, there was emotion. Army Veteran Charles Toberman received a rubbing of Army PFC Aerio Lucchi, who hailed from Toberman’s small hometown of Nokomis, IL. As volunteers completed the process, Toberman described Lucchi and the effect his death had on his parents back home.
The emotion of the day built to its typical coda at Midway in the evening. The boisterous Welcome Home celebration – featuring the Frankfort Brass Band in among the families due to construction – saw many tears of joy and healing. Experience it first hand in this video of Bob and Rod Gatenby and their families.
The Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery Memorial Squad was on hand in force in the evening at Midway to Welcome Home three of their own brethren who traveled on HFC114. They were escorted by a fourth member of the Squad who flew as a Guardian for one of the bunch. It is always an extra privilege to honor those who honor their own.
We are already gearing up for HFC115 in June. See you then!
Edna Ho and Doug Meffley
Directors, Honor Flight Chicago
“WOW! Next to my wedding day and the birth of my two kids, this had to be one of the best days of my life! The Honor Flight Chicago Staff was unbelievable. Every detail was covered! The amount of logistics going into one day rivals any military operation I’ve ever seen!”
— Vietnam Veteran Bob Reichert
“I think that there are no words that could adequately express the deep gratitude and overwhelming thankfulness and recognition that was felt by myself and all the Vets who were on the Honor Flight.”
— Vietnam Veteran David Senneke
“I had the most amazing time yesterday I can’t believe how many people showed up to send us off and greet us. And to return to Midway with all the hoopla was unbelievable”
— Vietnam Veteran Larry Cowherd
“As far as I was concerned, the weather all day was nothing but sunshine. The surprises just kept coming and coming, and the “mail call” while flying home just put the icing on the cake.”
— Vietnam Veteran Donald Packard
“Just wanted to say thank you for a great day. It was a great trip, one of the highlights for me was seeing the name of a guy I went to high school with on the wall. He only had two weeks before rotation out on his last patrol and never made it home. Thanks very much.”
— Vietnam Veteran John Ryan, Jr.
“I just wanted to say a big THANK YOU to you and all of the Honor Flight people! Yesterday could not have been more spectacular! I’m still overwhelmed by the love and support of so many of you who came out to make the day so special!”
— Vietnam Veteran Francis Bomher
