2019 Honor Flight Columbus Welcome Home Celebration

COLUMBUS, Ohio – The 2019 Honor Flight Columbus welcome home celebration took place on Saturday evening at the John Glenn International Airport. The mission of Honor Flight Columbus is to honor the nation’s veterans and take them on a day trip to Washington D.C. and to give them the celebration homecoming they deserve.

The airport was filled with people awaiting the veterans on their return from D.C., where up to 120 veterans participated in this Honor Flight Columbus trip, and got the chance to visit war memorials at no cost to them.

“It’s a one day event, we leave early in the morning, they come back in the evening. The whole day they have a guardian with them that kind of helps them through the day, walks with them, pushes them maybe in the wheelchair, carries their items for them. So it’s a whole day of pampering for our veterans,” said Honor Flight Columbus Grounds Crew Coordinator, Kelley Mitchell.

Honor Flight volunteers became the “hype team” during the welcome home celebration to keep families and friends entertained. There were special guests, live trivia for the crowd, music from the Gahanna Lincoln High School band, and even the Ohio State University’s marching band played a few tunes. “Thank you” signs were everywhere and spirits were high.

“They need to be told, they need to be treated. They need the parades that they used to get in World War II, you know, they used to come back and everybody was happy and thanking them, and having a parade for them. The guys here, they didn’t get that, they need that,” said Honor Flight Columbus volunteer, Gloria Gill.

Once the veterans made their arrival, the real welcome home celebration began. Every veteran received an introduction and praise from everyone in the room.

“I think that meant an awful lot, you know, I think that the guys that came home from Vietnam back 30 years ago, 40 years ago. We came home to nothing. And wow, just spectacular, all these people that really care,” said U.S. Veteran, Jim Simpson.

“When I left here there wasn’t too many, but when I come back, I don’t believe it, I don’t believe it!” said U.S. Veteran, Maurice Sheffield.

For an inside look at the Honor Flight Columbus trip, stay tuned later this month for a 30 minute special, Honor In the Skies, on WHIZ.