Honor Flight brings 117 Grand Forks veterans to Washington memorials
The group, composed mostly of Vietnam War veterans, arrived on Sunday to visit sites including Arlington National Cemetery.
By Ana Salazar ·
A delegation of 117 veterans from Grand Forks arrived in Washington, D.C., on Sunday for a multi-day Honor Flight. The group, which includes 115 men and two women, traveled to view memorials dedicated to their service.
The cohort is primarily composed of Vietnam War veterans. Of the 117 participants, 114 served during that conflict. Only three veterans served in the Korean War era.
Participants described the reception in the capital as warmer than they anticipated. Byron Cole, an Army veteran from the Vietnam War, noted the camaraderie among the group. He stated, “This is awesome. A bunch of guys get along a lot, talk a lot, it’s fun. It’s kind of the welcome we never got.”
Thomas Rainsberry, a Marine Corps veteran, said the trip is facilitating emotional processing among the group. He observed, “Well, it’s bringing some closure to some veterans. Because it’s finally getting them to open up to other veterans who served at the same time.” Ken Monson, an Air Force veteran, added that friends and relatives have expressed pride in his participation. He said, “I don’t feel very special but I’m sure glad I’m able to come here.”
The veterans will visit the U.S. Marine Corps Memorial, the National Museum of the U.S. Army, and Arlington National Cemetery. The memorial walls list thousands of names from the respective conflicts. The group is scheduled to return to Grand Forks on Tuesday night.
Source: KVLY-TV
