For dozens of Long Island veterans, Friday’s Honor Flight to Washington, DC offered a day of reflection, remembrance, and gratitude among the nation’s war memorials. The one-day trip, held twice a year, honors veterans of World War II, Korea, and Vietnam with an experience many describe as life-changing.
“It’s an amazing trip, and very rarely does a veteran make it through the whole day without shedding a tear,” said Andrea Nordquist, president of Blue Star Mothers New York Chapter 14, who has served as a guardian on several flights. “The camaraderie, the gratitude, and the sense of pride are just overwhelming.”
Each honor flight carries about 45 military veterans, each accompanied by a guardian volunteer who pays $400 to join the journey. The veterans fly free of charge. After landing in Baltimore, they board buses to visit the World War II, Korean War, and Vietnam Veterans Memorials, as well as the Iwo Jima and Air Force monuments.
“Everywhere they go, people are clapping, waving flags, and cheering,” Nordquist said. “It’s like a heroes’ walk. For many Vietnam veterans, this is our way of saying ‘thank you’ and ‘welcome home,’ because they didn’t get that when they returned from the war.”
Among the participants was John Leone, a 98-year-old World War II Naval veteran, who walked through the monuments unaided, drawing admiration from everyone around him. He drew cheers and applause from the large crowd that greeted the returning heroes at Islip MacArthur Airport, many with signs and music provided by the Saffron United Pipe Band.
Nordquist said there is a one- to two-year waiting list for the flights, which will continue “until we run out of veterans.” She added, “We have one of the largest veteran populations in the country, and we’ll keep honoring them as long as we can.”