Moving nearly 200 people around our capitol took some coordination.

Arlington National Cemetery

Many of the vets are in their 90’s.

On the tarmac in Grand Junction, vets begin their trip.

Volunteers greeted the vets at the airport.

Leonard Yost of the Western Slope Honor Flight is greeted after landing in Baltimore.

A veteran with

Senator Bob Dole greets the vets.

Pershing Reece and William Newberry get choked up after reading one of the children’s letters.

Kris Baugh, left,  of the Veterans Administration hospital coordinated the event.

The Combined Honor Guard salutes a vet in Grand Junction.

Boarding the flight in Grand Junction.

Western Slope Honor Flight WWII veteran Charles Campbell is greeted by well-wishers from across a barbed wire fence at Grand Junction Regional Airport. The 113 veterans returned from a trip to the capitol to see the World War II Memorial.

Two high school bands and The Centennial Band played during the vets’ return to the city.

Morning light illuminates the line of vets and volunteers waiting to board.

Not all guardians like to fly.

Dennis McKee, the US Airways charter coordinator, volunteers on his days off to help with the Honor Flights. He has gone on 47 flights, flying nearly 5,000 vets.

At Arlington National Cemetery and the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, Bill Newberry takes in the scene.

WWII vet Carl Medvesk, center, said this was the best time he’s had in his life.

Joe Booker of the Western Slope Honor Flight salutes the Iwo Jima Memorial in Washington D.C.

Another salute at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.

The Iwo Jima statue in Washington D.C. draws the crowds.

The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier

Two area vets with the Western Slope Honor Flight walk along the WWII monument built in their honor.

An Honor Flight vet takes in the Vietnam Veterans’ Memorial Wall.

The Korean War Veterans Memorial. These WWII vets know that freedom is not free.

Everyone arrived for the flight.

A picture before the trip.

A few jokes were exchanged during the flight.

The Gilbert Family greets Arthur Gilbert in Baltimore.

The Changing of the Guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier

One of the vets salutes at the Iwo Jima Memorial.

Leaving Baltimore Washington International airport.

Senator Bob Dole greets the vets.

From more than 30,000 feet, a view of what appears to be Nebraska.

Pershing Reece looks at his packet, called the Last Mail Call. Community members, family and children wrote letters to the vets.

Welcome home!

A great welcome back in Grand Junction.