(WKYT) – More than 60 Central Kentucky veterans returned to Blue Grass Airport Saturday to a welcome home celebration after a day visiting memorials in Washington, D.C., with Honor Flight Kentucky.
Hundreds gathered at the airport to welcome the veterans and their guardians home with a celebration.
Day included memorial visits, ceremonies
Earlier in the day, the veterans visited the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, where they looked for names along the black wall to remember fallen comrades.
One Korean War veteran received a special award while in Washington, D.C., which came as a surprise to him.
At the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, four veterans were chosen to take part in a wreath laying ceremony.
One veteran from Irvine celebrated his 80th birthday while on the Honor Flight.
“She said are you ready to go on the honor flight? I said yes, when is this? August 29th I said what I said how’s this happen on your birthday? I said what a blessing the good lord’s looking out for me,” said Denzil Cole, a veteran who celebrated his 80th birthday on the Honor Flight.
Mail call held before return trip
Before returning to Central Kentucky, veterans received a special delivery during a mail call, a nod to their service days of receiving mail from home.
American Airlines staff decorated their plane and played patriotic music during the trip.
WKYT will continue to follow stories from the Honor Flight in the month of September.
