5 days ago
WATCH: Wiregrass veterans met with warm welcome on return from D.C.
DOTHAN, Ala (WDHN) — Veterans who had the chance to visit memorial sites in Washington D.C. this week were met with thunderous applause, cheers, and even bagpipes on their return from the nation's capital.
The veterans were able to visit Arlington National Cemetery, the World War II memorials and Vietnam Remembrance Wall, and the Air Force Memorial in Arlington all on Wednesday.
READ MORE: Wiregrass veterans tour war monuments in the nation's capital
The group of veterans, chaperones, and WDHN reporter Robert Smith landed in Birmingham airport Wednesday afternoon. While walking through the airport towards the bus that would take the veterans home to the Wiregrass, they were met with applause and cheers from friends, loved ones, active military personnel, and military appreciation groups.
The veterans were even accompanied by bagpipes and drums as they walked through the Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport.
After an over three hour drive, the veterans returned to the Daleville Community Center, and were met with even more admirers and bagpipes.
For many Vietnam veterans, Wednesday's welcome home was a far cry from what they experianced on their return from war, as many of their fellow Americans did not view them as heroes.
Some of those soldiers were spit on or yelled at, due to the visceral response to a war that had become a nationwide political issue.
'After the way I was treated when I came back from Vietnam, this day has been wonderful. I just can't believe people are so nice, it makes me feel very good,' said Army Veteran Lonnie Daniels of his trip.
The trip was funded and orchestrated by Wiregrass Honor Flights,
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