Photo By Tech. Sgt. Rito Smith | A group of community members hold signs to honor veterans at St. Pete-Clearwater...... read more read more
Subscribe
Members of the Tampa Bay community including service members from MacDill Air Force Base, Florida, welcomed home more than 70 veterans who served in either WWII, the Korean War or the Vietnam War, Nov. 1, 2016.
They were welcomed home after they visited their national memorials in Washington D.C.; giving them the homecoming they never received when they returned from war so many years ago.
The surprise homecoming event was hosted by Honor Flight of West Central Florida, which has flown over 2,000 veterans to their memorials on 28 different flights over the past five years.
“The welcome home celebration is an emotional surprise we host for the veterans at the end of their one-day mission to Washington D.C.,” said Karen Maex, a board member with the Honor Flight of West Central Florida. “These veterans know they are not forgotten, and we are truly blessed to be able to celebrate and honor them like this.”
To show that they are not forgotten, volunteers organized numerous different ways to show appreciation for the veterans during their homecoming for example: an American flag back drop for photos with the veterans, a drill team, and members of the St. Andrew Pipes and Drums team came out to play for the veterans.
“I flew on the second Honor Flight with my son as my guardian, and I had such a great time,” said Thad Pollard, a retired WWII veteran. “I was so impressed by how organized and great it was that I decided to come back every time they have a homecoming to volunteer.”
All of these incredible veterans answered their nation’s call to duty by serving to protect the freedoms we have today.
“Whether they were a mail clerk, an airplane mechanic or a front line soldier, all jobs were important in the overall war effort,” said Maex. “That’s why we ask these veterans to fly with us in recognition of their part in the war effort, and to honor those who did not return.”
The veterans that were honored at this event, as well as all that came before them and will come after, paved the way for the future of the armed services.
“Every veteran honored served their country,” said Chief Master Sgt. Shane Warye, superintendent of the 6th Medical Group. “These heroes are our heritage and we can’t forget them.”
| Date Taken: | 11.01.2016 |
| Date Posted: | 12.16.2016 09:12 |
| Story ID: | 217865 |
| Location: | TAMPA, FL, US |
| Web Views: | 27 |
| Downloads: | 3 |
This work, Honoring our war veterans: Community gathers to give war veterans proper homecoming, by TSgt Rito Smith, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
No keywords found.
LEAVE A COMMENT