‘It's wonderful' HonorAir takes more East TN veterans to war memorials
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WATE) — HonorAir Knoxville began its 36th flight Wednesday, carrying 131 East Tennessee veterans to Washington D.C. to see the memorials honoring their sacrifice.
The flight departed from McGhee-Tyson Airport Wednesday morning, and it is scheduled to return around 7:40 p.m. Since 2007, HonorAir has served over 4,400 East Tennessee veterans.
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6 News joined the veterans at the airport for the sendoff ceremony where reporters spoke to some of the veterans.
'I've never gone, and I've always wanted to,' said George Hanlon, a United States Army veteran who served in Vietnam. He hopes to be able to participate again in the future.
He explained that it was 'wonderful' to see people doing so much to support veterans, saying, 'We didn't have that when I came home. We were mistreated terribly when we came home. It was not uncommon to get into a street fight if they saw you walking down the street in your uniform.'
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He added, 'I really want people to know that we really appreciate what you all are doing.'
Knox County Mayor Glenn Jacobs spoke at the event thanking everyone who had served and thanking HonorAir who flew his own father, a 21-year-veteran.
There will be another celebration when the flight returns Wednesday evening.
'When we return home and our veterans see all the flags, patriotic balloons and people lined up to welcome them, they are incredibly touched that people care about the sacrifices they made for their country,' said Eddie Mannis, Chairman of HonorAir.
Veterans Voices: Hear the stories of those who served
For their previous flight, HonorAir carried 141 women who served in the armed forces, one of whom described it as the 'best trip' of her life.
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