Award-winning photographer John Russell told us (and showed us) what the Honor Flight was all about.
 
Relying on his 27 years as a Traverse City Record-Eagle photographer and his Irish sense of humor, John told of his 2014 trip to Washington, D.C. with World War II veterans.  Honor Flight is a non-profit group that takes veterans and accompanying volunteers to the World War II Memorial.  The average age of the veterans on the trip was 93, and many were wheelchair-bound. Each veteran was accompanied by a volunteer.
 
While in Washington most veterans also took in the memorials honoring veterans from the Viet Nam and Korean Wars, as well as the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, Arlington National Cemetery and the Air Force Memorial.  The veterans were sent off with water cannons and welcomed back the same way.  In between they were hailed at every stop.
 
The number of living World War II veterans is rapidly declining, but efforts are under way to establish Honor Flights for veterans of the Korean War.  From his support for the recent flight it seems likely that John Russell again will be along to chronicle the trip.  (Click on picture for a larger view.)