Thousands greeted the 17th Honor Flight as it returned to Evansville Regional Airport Saturday night. WNIN’s John Gibson was there:
Master of Ceremonies Ron Rhodes announced the 86 veterans had returned from a whirlwind tour of monuments and memorials in Washington DC:
"I think we are ready for the parade to start, the vets that made it. All right, let's hear it for them."
The Honor Flight of Southern Indiana takes veterans – most of them elderly -- to the nation’s capital and back for free.
When they return from that busy day, they get a hero’s welcome at the airport:
(music)
The Kilindy Pipe Band performed as the veterans – many of them in wheelchairs – rolled through the terminal, out onto the sidewalk and back inside with lines of cheering supporters greeting them.
From there, they got their rides home.
For Vietnam veterans, it was the type of welcome many of them didn’t receive in the 1960’s and ‘70’s.
Honor Flight plans to send another 86 veterans to Washington in the spring with help from supporters and volunteers.
