The 2025 season – our 17th! – debuted on Wednesday, April 9, with 113 senior war heroes aboard a Southwest 737-800 bound for Washington, D.C. Included in that number were one WWII veteran and 12 Korean War veterans in addition to 100 Vietnam War veterans.
There is significance to Southwest’s mention in the paragraph above. It is no secret that Southwest Airlines is working through a lot of changes right now, and plane availability for our flights was not guaranteed this year. Approximately four weeks before our season opened with HFC120, the new senior vice president overseeing Southwest’s network operations and charter services met with us to reaffirm the company’s dedication to our veterans and to our mission. He let us know that despite their challenges they are proud to remain our airline partner now and well into the future. We cannot thank Southwest Airlines and all of our “Co-Heart” friends enough for their advocacy on our behalf!
HFC120 was presented by Peoples Gas, which provided a sponsorship level gift in support of the flight and provided four veteran-employees to serve as Guardians. Many thanks to Peoples Gas for their generosity and for the selflessness of their volunteer Guardians!
The WWII Veteran aboard this flight, Juan Garcia, Sr., was accompanied by not one family member, but three – and all wore gray shirts! His sons Juan Jr, Jose and Ismael all served during the Vietnam War, marking the first time we have flown a father with multiple veteran children on the same flight.
Also aboard was Jay Tunney, Korean War veteran and son of the “Fighting Marine” Gene Tunney. Gene was World Heavyweight Boxing champion from 1926 to 1928 after serving our country in the Marines during WWI. He later also served a stint in the Navy during WWII. Gene’s photo flew with us in our flag box as we honored his son, who is a fascinating individual in his own right!
Though the temperatures were chilly, the sun shone all day and the veterans of HFC120 enjoyed drive-by visits to the Marine Corps Memorial and the Air Force Memorial. A large school group greeted us at the WWII Memorial before the Marine Corps Silent Drill Platoon performed for our heroes on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial, surrounded by over a 1,000 members of the general public in town for Spring Break and Cherry Blossom Festival trips! The Welcome Home crowd at Midway was one of our largest in the post-construction and COVID eras.
Thank you to the many returning and brand new volunteers who made HFC120 a successful kickoff to our 17th season. We’ll see you next month!
Edna Ho and Doug Meffley
Directors, Honor Flight Chicago
“Thank you and your entire staff for making this trip so enjoyable. The respect and kindness exhibited throughout the day was unprecedented. As you said on the flight someone once said they did not think anyone cared about us, well your team in Chicago and DC showed that people do care and the return to Midway was so emotional.”
— Vietnam Veteran Art Salzman
“I wanted to thank all of you who participated in Mail Call for my Honor Flight to DC with my fellow veterans. Receiving letters from home was always vital in Vietnam. I also want to thank the many people who wrote letters, as well as community groups, veteran groups, and classrooms of kids. In all, it made for a true Welcome Home.”
— Vietnam Veteran Edward White
“All the volunteers in both Chicago and Washington were so very kind and giving of themselves to make it a special day. And the greetings we got everywhere, OMG! It was a day I will never forget.”
— Vietnam Veteran Michael Casey
“When we stepped of the plane, I was brought to tears to see the reception for us Veterans. Made us so proud that so many people have finally cared for us and what we have done to serve America!”
— Vietnam Veteran Joseph Garofalo
“I had anticipated something special. It was MORE, requiring the coordination of many unselfish people.”
— Korean War Veteran Clayton Klein
“I can’t possibly thank you enough for ALL your efforts for making Honor Flight Chicago one of the greatest experiences of my life! God Bless all the volunteers who couldn’t be more helpful and accommodating.”
— Vietnam Veteran Bob Carter
