Overview of the Permian Basin Honor Flight
SAN ANGELO, Texas (Concho Valley Homepage) — The Permian Basin Honor Flight is just what it sounds like. It is a flight that is chartered to Washington D.C. to honor America’s heroes. This flight allows veterans who served in the Vietnam War, Korean war, WWII among others to visit the memorials built in their honor.
The first mission was in 2014 and has since grown in size and support. The actual day of the mission begins bright and early from the Midland International Airport. Everyone gets checked in and waits for the fun to begin.
Once the flight crew is prepared its all aboard the plane to D.C. When we reached 30,000 feet in the air it was mail call time. Instead of receiving mail or news from home, the veterans on board received letters and drawings from area kids who were wishing them well on their trip.
After landing in Washington, it was time for the real fun to begin. These men and women received a warm welcome from staff at the airport and people who were there to catch a flight. From here it was memorial after memorial, visiting the monuments that were built in their honor.
These visits were filled with joy but also sadness and heartache as memories flooded back in. These visits also proved healing and provided the comfort that some of these veterans have been longing for.
The nighttime after a full day was filled with laughter, new friendships being made and even some dancing. Once this trip ended, we arrived back home to a welcome at the Midland airport from family and friends of these veterans. This was a life-changing trip to say the least. The Permian Basin Honor Flight crew is already making plans for the next mission and can’t wait to serve the next group of veterans.
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