FRESNO (KMJ) — The 13th Central Valley Honor Flight has left Fresno Yosemite International Airport, whisking the 66 veterans on board to Washington D.C. to visit the memorials dedicated to their service.
Seven of those taking the Monday morning journey to the East Coast served in the Second World War, one in Vietnam, and the others saw conflict in the Korean War.
“So thanks to the generosity of people here in the valley, our all-volunteer organization is able to take them there,” explains Central Valley Honor Flight Board Member Paul Loeffler.
The participants of Honor Flight 13 come from 27 different hometowns and 10 different counties, with ages ranging from 62 to 96.
“In Washington D.C. they’ll visit the World War 2 memorial, the Korean War Memorial, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial with all the names on the wall, they’ll go to Arlington National Cemetery and see the changing of the guard, and they’ll also visit the Navy Memorial, the Air Force Memorial, and the Women’s Memorial.
“We have three female veterans on this flight, so that’s going to be very powerful for them.”
With a water cannon salute, the 13th @CVHonorFlight takes to the skies from @FresnoAirport. Next stop – @BWI_Airport. More on @KMJNOW. pic.twitter.com/ul3xQJ6qMH
— Dom McAndrew (@DomMcAndrew) April 24, 2017
The group is set to return to the Central Valley Wednesday April 26th, with what organizers describe as a “welcome home.”
“It is the valley’s biggest patriotic party,” says Loeffler. “If you can be here at the Fresno Airport Wednesday night about 5 o’clock – do it, you won’t regret it.”
Hear the report from KMJ’s Dominic McAndrew as it aired:
