SWANTON – Greeted by rounds of applause, grateful hearts and the United States Armed Forces Medley, 73 veterans returned from an all-expenses paid, one-day trip to Washington, D.C.
The Flag City Honor Flight (FCHF) veterans arrived home on Tuesday, April 1, to a Welcome Home ceremony attended by their families, FCHF volunteers and community members.
“It was probably the best day of my life,” said 25th Infantry Vietnam Veteran Donald Miller.
“The send-off and return were unbelievable, the music, the band, shaking hands,” Miller said. “It was like New Year’s Eve.”
This was the 30th flight the FCHF has taken. The FCHF, a nonprofit with a 100-percent volunteer force, makes four veteran flights annually. This year’s dates are April 1, June 3, Sept. 9 and Oct. 14.
More than just a fun vacation to the nation’s capital, this visit is an opportunity for veterans to attend the World War II, Korean and Vietnam war memorials.
The 2025 trips will differ slightly from previous years, however.
While all flights still depart and return from Toledo Express Airport, they are using a new airline, JetBlue, rather than Allegiant.
FCHF media leader Mallory Crooks said this is to help save time. With Allegiant, veterans had to fly to Baltimore and take a long bus ride to the memorials. JetBlue provides a more direct route to the memorials.
“Outstanding” was Vietnam veteran Rene Niese’s one-word response regarding his experience on the FCHF trip.
While Niese and Miller had each visited the national war memorials before, they agreed that seeing them on the trip with other veterans completely changed the experience.
“The Vietnam wall was my favorite,” Miller said. Miller’s cousin was killed during the war, and his name is inscribed on the Vietnam War Memorial.
Miller explained that while everybody looks at war memorials differently, to him, they are a celebration of life.
In addition to seeing memorials, the trip is also a chance for veterans to bond and connect.
For Niese, who was a battalion supply officer in Vietnam and a captain in the 359th Transportation Company, it was a chance to reconnect. He happened across one of his old high school classmates, who, unbeknown to Niese, had also served in Vietnam.
While the trip was attended by Korea veterans, as well, for the Vietnam veterans, being honored for their service was especially moving.
Warm welcomes were not especially common when soldiers returned home from Vietnam.
“Welcome homes then were mom and dad, and maybe a friend,” Miller said.
Niese said he also particularly enjoyed mail call. He recalled that during his deployment, he used to eagerly await letters or packages from his wife and family.
“We would wait, and they would call your name and give you your mail,” Niese said.
So, it was particularly moving during mail call at the Welcome Home ceremony. Niese received a mail bag filled with dozens of letters written by everyone from children to congressmen.
“I did not want it end,” he said.
In addition to the bag of mail, Niese also received a knitted red, white and blue blanket, which he plans to use while sitting on his porch chatting with his wife.
While the memorials are the primary focus of the trip, Crooks said veterans have opportunities to see more sights.
“This particular flight, we had four Flag City Honor Flight representatives lay a wreath at the tomb of the Unknown Soldier,” Crooks said.
Veterans also saw the changing of the guard at Arlington National Cemetery, and drove past the Navy and Air Force memorials.
Veterans in Northwest Ohio and Southeastern Michigan qualify for the FCHF flights.
“I’d highly recommend it to any veteran,” Miller said. “It’s really well worth it. Makes you feel good.”
Crooks said the FCHF is looking for volunteers and sponsorships to help fund the flights and keep them free for veterans. Learn more at flagcityhonorflight.org.
