Veterans welcomed home as Honor Flight Dayton returns to skies after 2 years

DAYTON — People from all over the Miami Valley showed up Saturday night at Dayton International Airport to welcome home veterans as Honor Flight Dayton took to the skies for the first time in three years.

Veterans from our area spent Saturday in Washington D.C. taking in the memorials that honor those who fought for our country.

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The program had been on pause due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

News Center 7′s Brandon Lewis was at the airport Saturday night when veterans had their special homecoming.

There were people of all ages waving American flags and holding up signs.

More than 100 veterans flew to DC Saturday morning, organizers told News Center 7. Most were Vietnam War Vets.

Lewis spoke with Families of Vietnam War Vets and they say Saturday meant a lot because their loved ones did not received a good welcome when they returned from Vietnam.

“I think it’s wonderful to honor all the veterans and what they do for us,” said Hillary Dursch, her grandfather served in the Korean War. “I mean what they’ve done for us. It’s just really a wonderful thing for them to get to go experience Washington D.C. and then for us to really give them that time and moment when they come home.”

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“If you’ve never been, you have to come at least once,” Nancy Hutton, Daughters of American Revolution, told Lewis. “It’s just something to see.”

The next Honor Flight Dayton is scheduled for October.

For more information, visit the Honor Flight Dayton Facebook page.

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