CHICAGO – Dozens of local U.S. war veterans took a one-day journey to the nation’s capital to honor their sacrifice and service.
It’s all part of Honor Flight Chicago.
The baggage claim area at Midway Airport turned festive Wednesday night as family and friends welcomed home over 100 local war heroes, showering them with love many never received when they returned home years ago.
“It’s kind of crazy because you tell people, ‘Well, I have a person who went on the honor flight,’ and I was telling people today, ‘Yeah, I have three,'” said Tom Latham, a son of a U.S. veteran.
Latham comes from a family honoring eight brothers and three brother-in-laws who served the U.S. He and his family were proud to welcome home not one, but three of those veterans who were on Wednesday’s honor flight.
Also on Wednesday night, 116 veterans from Chicago and surrounding areas flew back to Midway after a day touring national memorials in Washington, D.C. The seven Korean War Veterans and 109 Vietnam Veterans representing the Air Force, Army, Marines, and Navy were part of Honor Flight Chicago’s 117th flight dating back to when the organization partnered with the Chicago Department of Aviation and Southwest Airlines in 2007.
The all-expense paid trip to our nation’s capital is meant to show the veterans how appreciated they are and to recognize them for their bravery, determination and patriotism.
“I’m so pleased and honored that everybody remembers we’re still here and we love our country and there’s nothing we wouldn’t do and what we have done. I would do it all over again,” said Korean War Veteran James Porter.
As of Wednesday, over 11,200 veterans have made the Honor Flight trip.