5 days ago
Midwest Honor Flight returning tonight
SIOUX CITY, Iowa (KCAU) — More than 80 local veterans are due back in Sioux City around 8:30 p.m. after spending the day in the nation's capital, where they saw memorials built in their honor.
The end of Mission 26 of Midwest Honor Flight completes a multi-year effort to have veterans depart from Sioux Gateway Airport in Sioux City.
Community-wide fundraising has been ongoing, helping to make this dream a reality.
Siouxlanders helped Midwest Honor Flight raise nearly $200K to pay for this trip. This was the nonprofit's first flight out of Sioux City since 2010.
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Veterans, including Michael Simoni, who served in the army during the Vietnam War, were looking forward to what was expected to be a welcoming experience. This welcoming experience is different from how he was welcomed home after the vietnam war.
'It means an awful lot. It was different when we came home from Vietnam. We flew into California, and there were a lot of protests. Truthfully, this is an honor. There are a lot of veterans here. It's an honor to be with them,' said Simoni. Simoni is traveling with his son, who is also a veteran.
The veterans will return to Hawthorn Aviation tonight around 9 p.m. Hawthorne is located just north of Sioux Gateway Airport on Mitchell Street. Everyone is encouraged to come and join in for the 'Operation Welcome Home' ceremony honoring the veterans and capping the emotional day.
Doors at the Hawthorne will be opening at 7:30 p.m. If you are unable to take part in person, KCAU 9 will also live stream Operation Welcome Home on our website.
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