On June 19, 112 senior veterans boarded Southwest Flight 8037 bound for Washington’s Dulles International Airport and their long-awaited Day of Honor, Thanks and Inspiration with Honor Flight Chicago. Four Korean War veterans and 108 Vietnam War veterans comprised that total.
With summer vacations in full swing, we met several groups of school-aged kids along our route eager to thank these veterans for their service. First, we got a surprise at the top of the jet bridge at Dulles where the Prince William Cardinals 11U travel baseball team had stationed themselves with the help of local police. With signs and flags, they gave our heroes a warm greeting before they could even get to the main terminal and the welcome awaiting there.
At the WWII Memorial, multiple groups with EF Tours lined the path into the Memorial, including a high school football team from Bakersfield, California, that made greeting our veterans the centerpiece of a 10-day trip up and down the Eastern seaboard.
Later that night, back home at Midway, there were enough Scouts and Girl Scouts in full uniform to form their own military division! Their presence between our Patriot Guard flag line and the Chicago Police and Fire Pipe and Drum provided a never-ending tunnel of love and respect before the veterans made their way down to the families waiting in baggage claim.
Also of note, HFC115 marked the final flight for Miss District of Columbia Jude Maboné, who has been a mainstay vocalist during our ceremony at the WWII Memorial for the better part of six years. Jude began performing God Bless America when she was a volunteer with the Miss DC organization, and exited this month as she heads to law school at the University of Michigan.
HFC116 in July will mark yet another milestone for our organization: we will fly our 11,000th senior veteran to our nation’s capital. See you then!
Edna Ho and Doug Meffley
Directors, Honor Flight Chicago
“Thanks For a wonderful day. One of the most memorable of my life. What an organization. You make so many veterans feel proud and happy. What a reception on both ends. Thanks again from the bottom of my heart.”
— Vietnam Veteran Jack Ferriter
“What a phenomenal day. All of the volunteers were great. The mail call and celebration at the airport and at all of the memorials. I can’t say enough. Thank you. Please extend my grateful thanks for a super home coming to all who helped out.”
— Vietnam Veteran Dan Sowonik
“Just a quick note to say Thanks for all that the volunteers did to make flight # 115 successful last Wednesday. It was definitely a day to remember with surprise after surprise filling the day. The love, honor, and respect that poured out to us was beyond belief!”
— Vietnam Veteran Ed Bradley
“I had a fabulous experience and a Welcome Home I waited 50 years for! Chicago Honor Flight hit it out of the park!!”
— Vietnam Veteran James Claydon
“Thank you for all you did to make the most memorable event we could imagine. I had the same feelings when coming home after my tour of duty in Nam, without the fan fair of course, but the elation of ‘coming home’ was identical as that time 54 years ago, for me. The attention to detail and the treatment we experienced from your personnel, not only made us feel honored, but also proud to be associated with a wonderfully dedicated organization.”
— Vietnam Veteran Richard Brueckmann
“What was amazing is that the Vietnam era veterans on this flight were finally ‘welcomed home’ again! It was troubling times during the Vietnam war. Most American’s were against sending troops to Southeast Asia. The longer the war lasted, the more body bags came home. In fact, those veterans based in the United States could not wear their uniform off base for their own safety. I saw the sorrow in the eyes of some veterans as they etched the names of their fallen soldiers at the Wall. The Honor Flight really honored those who served their country. It gave them the appreciation and dignity they so deserved for a long time.”
— Vietnam Veteran Clark Wormer
