I felt very fortunate to get to go on the 5th Midwest Honor Flight to Washington DC on Thursday, September 24th.

The Honor Flight is designed to honor veterans from World War II, Korean War, Vietnam and the people who served during that period. There was a dinner the evening before we left at the Convention Center in Sioux Falls.

Mr. Erin Van Beek is president and director of the Honor Flight. He is a young man, 25 years old, and he started the Honor Flight while in college at the age of 21.

It was amazing the organization and cooperation the volunteer crew provided. There were 40 volunteers who went along to help out.

The veterans had to have a guardian along with them, with approximately one-fourth of the veterans in wheelchairs for the two and a half hour direct flight to DC.

Our first stop was the World War II Memorial, then we visited the Marine Corp Memorial, Arlington National Cemetery, Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, Korean Memorial, Wall of Vietnam Memorial with 400,000+ soldiers names, Air Force Memorial, Navy Memorial, Jefferson Memorial, Lincoln Memorial and then past the White House and the US Capital.

It was very well planned, and we got back to Reagan International Airport to return to Sioux Falls by 9 p.m. At the airport we loaded on buses and upon arriving at the Convention Center, they drove the buses right in where a large crowd waiting to greet them back .

I was so proud of all the young people who volunteered to help with the trip.