Local veterans return home from trip to Washington, D.C.

Posted at: 10/21/2012 7:13 PM | Updated at: 10/22/2012 12:42 AM
By: Joangel Concepcion | WHEC.com

More than 40 local veterans arrived in Rochester after a trip to Washington D.C. The trip was organized as part of the Honor Flight program.

News10NBC has covered many arrivals this year, but this weekend's visit was the last one for 2012.

When the veterans return to Rochester they are given a warm welcome home that many of them never received when they came home from war decades ago

It was an emotional landing at the Greater Rochester International Airport as 46 local veterans came home to hundreds of friends, family and fellow military members on Sunday afternoon.

The Honor Flight travelers had the chance to visit the War Memorial in Washington D.C and the Arlington Cemetery in Virginia. Together they reflected on those who were lost throughout World War II, Vietnam and the Korean War.

The organization was formed so that every veteran across the nation will have the chance to visit the Memorial. So far, more than 1,100 veterans have flown via Honor Flight from Rochester.

A group of boy scouts were also at the airport greeting the veterans. The troop wrote several letters to the veterans asking questions about their time in the military. The veterans read them on the way to the nation's capital. They called it "mail call" and it's similar to the way they received mail when they were in the military.

Patrick Callery from Boy Scouts of America says, "We did it for multiple reasons. A part of scouting is giving back to the community and we felt it was important to give back to some of our veterans."

Of the 46 local veterans who made the journey, many of them said it was a trip they will never forget. Honor Flight traveler John Griffin says, "The trip was fantastic. You know going through the cemetery and touching the walls of the World War two veterans is a very emotional situation to go through."

More than 80,000 veterans have experienced the Honor Flight nationwide since the organization began in 2009.

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