On Wednesday, October 28, one Korean War and 108 Vietnam War Veterans traveled to Washington, D.C., on Honor Flight Chicago’s 133rd mission to close out our 18th season of Honoring, Thanking, and Inspiring our senior Veterans.
No large-scale mission such as ours ever goes off perfectly, but our volunteers were prepared to deal with the several obstacles that appeared during HFC133. Our “red shirt” team once again ensured the safety and comfort of everyone on flight day despite a couple of medically related situations. And when one of our buses would not start, the entire team came together to shift resources (and seats!) to get us underway with minimal disruption to the day ahead.
The camaraderie among Veterans on an Honor Flight is what makes the day as special as it is, and that camaraderie also extends to our volunteers. We simply could not do what we do as well as we do it without them.
As we heard from the family of Vietnam Veteran William Carroll: “What impressed us most was that this was not simply a trip to Washington, D.C. It was a day dedicated to recognizing the sacrifices, service, and patriotism of an entire generation of Veterans. The dignity and respect shown to each Veteran were truly remarkable.
“Having spent my career in public service, I understand the dedication and teamwork required to coordinate an event of this magnitude. I can say without hesitation that Honor Flight Chicago represents the very best of what volunteerism, leadership, and service to others should look like.
“For our family, the memories created on Wednesday will last a lifetime. Seeing my father-in-law receive the recognition and appreciation he so rightfully deserves was an experience that words cannot adequately describe.”
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In 2026, Honor Flight Chicago flew three WWII, 15 Korean War, and 753 Vietnam War Veterans across seven flights. That’s 771 life-changing Days of Honor and 771 Welcome Homes never before received.
We cannot say thank you enough to all of the volunteers who participated in our flights. At Midway, 461 different people came out as orange shirts in the wee hours of the morning or late into the evening, with many attending all seven missions. In Washington, D.C., 240 different people served as D.C. Guardians, spending an entire day with Veterans they’ve never met before to ensure they had the best possible experience with Honor Flight Chicago. And again, many of those D.C. Guardians attended most if not all of our flights this year.
We wish all of our Veterans a wonderful Veterans Day, and to our entire Honor Flight Chicago family we extend the warmest wishes for a happy and healthy Holiday Season. We’ll see you again in 2027!
Edna Ho and Doug Meffley
Directors, Honor Flight Chicago
“I just have to say that was one of the best and most wonderful experiences of my life! Being on the Mall and seeing the monuments brought back so many memories of my service time, some good, some not so good. All special! I found the Korean Memorial especially striking! The experience the entire Honor Flight Chicago organization provides is truly extraordinary. Everyone I met or came into contact with was so friendly and welcoming. I am eternally grateful!!”
— Vietnam Veteran Larry Foy
“Thank you so much for all your efforts on our behalf. Your kindness and helpfulness was so appreciated. Your entire organization’s production is beyond amazing. Certainly a day I will never forget and always think about fondly. Every senior veteran I spoke with was in awe and so appreciated all the attention.”
— Vietnam Veteran Joe Smith
“The Honor Flight Chicago Organization is amazing. Thanks to all of the green, orange, red, and any other color that I have forgotten, shirts for their kindness and help. The whole experience is hard to describe. To find yourself at a cemetery filled with those who have given their all for their country, and me, make the monuments even more special. Having seen the cemeteries in Hawaii and France gave this even more impact. My thanks to everyone who made this possible.”
— Vietnam Veteran William Carroll
“I thank all the people at HFC for such an amazing experience. This was a once in a lifetime experience. I want to thank you. But I also want to thank all those who made it possible. Please convey my heartfelt thanks to everyone, most of whom I don’t know or remember. There were so many volunteers and guardians. Thank you so much for such an amazing day.”
— Vietnam Veteran Steve Proctor
“I was so impressed with the operation, the organization, and every single volunteer I interacted with. What an amazing group of people! You said during training as a Family Guardian this would be a very meaningful experience, and that is 100% correct. I will forever be grateful I was able to experience this with my Father, it’s something I will remember the rest of my life.”
— Ryan Wheeler, son and Guardian of Vietnam Veteran Randy Wheeler
“On behalf of my father, myself and my family and all the veterans on the flight, thank you again for such a heartwarming and unforgettable experience. The memories we made that day will stay with us for years to come. More importantly, you and your entire team helped create a day that showed our veterans just how much their service and sacrifices mean to so many people. That is something truly special, and I hope everyone involved knows how much they are appreciated.”
— Jeff Knor, son and Guardian of Vietnam Veteran Ronald Knor
