What's Happening

Welcoming Home Our Heroes

On a sunny Thursday afternoon in June, 35 veterans arrived at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport. These veterans, who had served in World War II, are part of a national program called Honor Flight. This program gives veterans the chance to travel to Washington D.C. and see the war memorials and to be given the return welcome they might not have had when they came back from the war.

As the veterans’ plane landed, it was met with a water arch as it taxied to the gate. Upon deplaning and exiting security, the American Legion Honor Guard greeted the veterans before they were eagerly welcomed home by friends and family members with signs, flags and cheering. All then attended a short ceremony held in the veterans’ honor. For the veterans, their families, and friends, it was a time of many emotions.

The Honor Flight organization, which is a national non-profit group, flies the veterans to the East Coast at no cost to them. Honor Flight works in partnership with Southwest Airlines. For more information on the Arizona Honor Flight program, visit http://honorflightaz.org/

To see more pictures from the event, click here.

First posted: 6/10/2011