WASHINGTON, D.C. — Dozens of veterans from the Upper Peninsula were in Washington today for UP Honor Flight Mission XXIII. The honor flight gives local veterans the chance to visit various war memorials and monuments in our nation’s capital. But it’s much more than just a sightseeing trip.
The group of 78 veterans made stops at Arlington National Cemetery, the World War II, Vietnam and Korean War Memorials as well as other sites.
“For a lot of them, it’s their first time in D.C., so it’s just overwhelming for them,” said Scott Knauf, the President of the UP Honor Flight.
Knauf says the trip helps veterans, like those who served in Vietnam, heal.
After serving their country through a brutal war, many Vietnam veterans received anything but a warm welcome.
“Coming back was pretty much like still being over there. I just wouldn’t wear my uniform anymore, it attracted unwanted attention,” said Howard Wilcox, a Vietnam veteran who served in the Marine Corps. “Life was pretty difficult.”
“It took me 30 years before we even talked about it. And you see, I got a hat now, we did none of that stuff for 30 years,” said Peter Krook, also a Vietnam veteran.
“It was a hard time to come home and most of our veterans just tried to hide it and forget it,” said Fran Smith, who served at St. Albans Naval Hospital from 1963 to 1966.
For many of these veterans, the honor flight is about more than just visiting our nation’s capital and sightseeing. It’s about being seen receiving long overdue gratitude for their service.
“This is just amazing. Just amazing. We never had it,” said Smith. “My husband and my brothers never got to see it. So, it’s amazing, I wish that everybody could’ve seen it and had the thank you that they should’ve gotten,” Smith added.
Like many others, this was Smith’s first time seeing the Vietnam War Memorial and Vietnam Womens’ Memorial. The memorials were built to honor her and countless others, including childhood friends of some on the Honor Flight.
“I think every Vietnam veteran, or even Korean War, they should come here. It’s heartwarming,” said Keith Jackson, a Vietnam veteran who served in the Marine Corps.
“To be with these folks and their guardians who come with them, it’s just an energizing event for all of us,” said UP Congressman Jack Bergman (R- MI), who greeted the veterans in Washington. “The gratitude that these men and women, who served in uniform and served our country so honorably, the gratitude that they feel and the thankfulness they feel for just being here, it’s contagious,” added Bergman, a former Lt. General in the U.S. Marine Corps.
As the veterans toured the site, dozens of school groups and children could be heard exclaiming “thank you” and “thanks for your service.” Some students approached the UP veterans and shook their hands.
“It makes me cry,” said Smith.
The patriotic gestures from the children are a sharp contrast to what the veterans came home to in the late 1960s and early 1970s.
“No matter how popular or unpopular war, it’s got nothing to do with the soldiers. They’re doing their duty and they’re protecting your freedom. And freedom is not free,” said Smith.
Knauf said the UP Honor Flight is fully supported by local generosity.
“It’s the Upper Peninsula that supports this 100%. We’re able to continue doing these flights because of how they support us,” said Knauf.
Knauf said veterans interested in the UP Honor Flight, who served from 1941 until May of 1975, can fill out the application, available here, or by visiting the UP Honor Flight website: uphonorflight.org.
