Honor Flight San Diego sends nearly 100 veterans to Washington, D.C.
SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) — Honor Flight San Diego is escorting nearly 100 veterans from World War II, the Korean War and the Vietnam War to Washington, D.C. on Friday morning. The mission: to honor their service and provide them with a chance to visit the memorials dedicated to their sacrifices.
The veterans, ranging in age from their 80s to over 100, gathered at San Diego International Airport before dawn. They were met with a warm welcome from fellow veterans, family members and supporters, including San Diego firefighters who escorted them through the terminal. The atmosphere was filled with gratitude and anticipation as the group prepared for their journey to the nation's capital.
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'It's a great experience for us to be here and help out some of the veterans,' a local firefighter told FOX 5/KUSI. 'We're here to hype them up. We're here to welcome them and to make sure they have a great flight.'
Over the course of the three-day trip, the veterans will visit several memorials, including the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall, where the names of 48 Navy SEALs who made the ultimate sacrifice are inscribed. The trip is not only an opportunity for reflection but also a chance for camaraderie among veterans who served in different eras.
Honor Flight San Diego is a non-profit organization dedicated to escorting San Diego County veterans to Washington, D.C., to visit and reflect at the memorials dedicated to their service and sacrifice. The organization relies on donations and volunteers to carry out its mission. As for this flight, it was solely funded by a woman named Sue Busby who donated approximately $300,000 to make it possible.
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'I heard about the Honor Flight about two or three years ago and just was so intrigued with the whole veteran treaty and all that, so I got involved,' said Busby. 'It's wonderful; I'm just so thankful to be here.'
For more information or to support the cause, visit honorflightsandiego.org.
Friday's departure marks the 30th Honor Flight San Diego flight, with more expected in the future. The veterans' return is scheduled for Sunday, April 28. The public is invited to attend the homecoming and show their appreciation for their service and sacrifices.
KUSI's Paul Rudy and Chris Hansen are joining this April's San Diego Honor Flight and will be providing more coverage throughout the weekend.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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