Great River Honor Flight sends 31 veterans to Washington, D.C.

WASHINGTON (Gray DC) – A group of veterans participated in a once in a lifetime trip: an all-expensive paid visit to Washington, D.C. to see how their service is being honored.

31 veterans from Iowa, Illinois, and Missouri were flown to the nation’s capital as part of Great River Honor Flight’s 79th mission. The organization has sent more than 2,500 veterans from the Tri-State region to D.C. since the very first flight in 2009.

For some in attendance, it marks their first visit to Washington to see the war memorials, including the Vietnam, Korean War, and World War II memorials located around the National Mall.

One attendee – Ed Brant, an Army Vietnam War veteran – flew in from Missouri. He and his son enjoyed their visit to the monuments so much, he’s planning on returning to Washington for an extended trip.

“It’s an honor to serve the country,” Brant said, “and I really think they should honor all services.”

While Brant spent two years in Vietnam, his goal was instead to visit the Korean War Veterans Memorial and find the name of his brother.

“My brother was K.I.A in Korea, and I went to count his name off the wall,” explained Brant.

For Emmett Monks, a Navy Vietnam veteran, participating in an honor flight is a chance to share a part of history and reunite with the lives touched by war decades later.

“Got to see the [Vietnam] wall,” said Monks. “That’s the main attraction. The folks with the tour and everything… puts a lot of old souls back together.”

Veterans were also able to visit Arlington National Cemetery and watch the changing of the guard at the tomb of the unknown soldier before boarding a flight back home.

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