Tuesday morning, April 21, the 14th Honor Flight Upstate SC with 91 World War II and Korean War veterans from Greenville area, the Upstate, Asheville-Hendersonville of NC and northern Georgia left Greenville-Spartanburg Airport shortly after 9 a.m., destination Washington, D.C.
As the plane taxied down the runway, two airport “yellow” firetrucks saluted the “Flight” with a five-minute water cannon salute.
Four tour buses waited outside Reagan National Airport terminal to take the veterans and support staff to visit the various memorials in the D.C. area.
The tour buses stopped first at the World War II Memorial, which was dedicated Memorial Day weekend, 2004.
After spending almost an hour visiting the large memorial area, the veterans were asked to return to the Reflecting Pool for a group picture.
After lunch, the buses took the veterans to the Korean War Memorial area. The veterans also visited the Vietnam Wall, the Vietnam Soldier Memorial and the Vietnam Female Army Nurse Memorial.
The veterans next visited the Iwo Jima US Marine Corps Memorial, where another group picture was taken.
The buses next stop was the U.S. Air Force Memorial where a band was assembled to serenade the veterans.
The last stop was a tour of Arlington National Cemetery and then to get off the buses and observe the “Changing of the Guard” Ceremony at the “Tomb of the Unknowns.”
The buses had a D.C. police escort from Arlington back to Reagan National Airport to return to Greenville.
The returning veterans were recognized at the top of the GSP airport escalators. The vets who were able to walk, were escorted by Greenville City Police officers, Greenville County Deputies, along with Pickens and Oconee County Deputies. The vets in wheelchairs were escorted down the elevator.
More than 300 family members, school children, friends and veterans welcomed the veterans back to Greenville.
