Photo By Airman 1st Class Danielle Hough | U.S. military veterans board a flight to Washington, D.C., as part of the 50th Honor...... read more read more
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BAER FIELD AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE, Ind. – The 122nd Fighter Wing proudly hosted the 50th Honor Flight with Honor Flight Northeast Indiana (HFNEI) on April 23, 2025, welcoming 83 veterans on a trip to Washington, D.C., to visit the memorials dedicated to their service and sacrifice.
The milestone flight included veterans from the Korean War, the Vietnam War, and the Cold War era. Departing early in the morning from Fort Wayne International Airport, the veterans flew to the nation's capital to tour the World War II Memorial, the Korean War Veterans Memorial, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, and Arlington National Cemetery.
“It’s amazing,” said Cathy Berkshire, president of HFNEI, who has been on 47 flights since the organization began. “It’s a brand new flight every time, brand new set of veterans, and it’s just as emotional now as it was the first flight.”
Indiana Lt. Gov. Micah Beckwith joined the veterans early that morning and expressed his admiration for their service.
“It’s a very humbling experience to see the humility from these 83 veterans,” Beckwith said. “It was an honor.”
The return flight was met with a hero’s welcome at the Fort Wayne International Airport, where hundreds of supporters gathered for a patriotic homecoming celebration that many of these veterans never received when they returned home from war.
U.S. Rep. Marlin Stutzman also praised the event, noting the veterans’ love of country and of national security.
“Serving the U.S. military and serving our country is their highest honor,” Stutzman said. “And they said, you know, they would do it all again.”
Stutzman also mentioned that the 122nd Fighter Wing is the only Air National Guard base in the country to act as host for honor flights.
The 50th Honor Flight marks a significant milestone in HFNEI’s mission to honor America’s veterans by providing them with an all-expenses-paid visit to Washington, D.C. The flights are made possible by generous donors from the local area. Honor Flight Northeast Indiana plans to continue its mission with several more flights scheduled through the remainder of the year.
| Date Taken: | 04.23.2025 |
| Date Posted: | 05.02.2025 12:59 |
| Story ID: | 496056 |
| Location: | FORT WAYNE, INDIANA, US |
| Web Views: | 25 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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