11-05-2025
SOCO Honor Flight returns home
(COLORADO SPRINGS) — 59 veterans who took a three-day trip to see the memorials built for them in Washington, D.C., walked into Colorado Springs Christian Academy on Saturday, May 10, where they were greeted with a hero's welcome.
Many who attended were holding American flags, posters welcoming their loved ones back from their trip, and plenty of emotion after a long and emotional trip full of reflection on fighting for the stars and stripes.
Each veteran who went on the trip served at different times in different places. Many who served in the Vietnam War. Three served in World War II, and six served in the Korean War. But the bond of fighting for their country spans their service. Herman Arellano, a Vietnam Veteran, went to reflect on a time when he fought alongside his high school friend.
'He went in a few months before I did, and he got killed two months into Vietnam service and was only 19 years old,' Arellano said.
Arellano says he visited the Vietnam Memorial, where he scribed his friend's name off the wall and added that it helped him find a lot of closure.
'I'm really glad I went because it really helped me,' Arellano said.
Some who apply to go on the SOCO Honor Flight have to wait around 2 1/2 years before being able to go on this trip. Arellano says he could have gone last year but decided to hold off one more time.
'When I found out they were looking for Korean veterans to go, I decided to wait till now so my brother-in-law and I could go together,' Arellano said.
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