WASHINGTON – Twenty-two local veterans flew to the nation’s capital Saturday morning as a part of the First Coast Honor Flight.
The First Coast Honor Flight, a nationwide Honor Flight Network member, took the veterans on a once-in-a-lifetime trip to Washington to visit the National Mall and Arlington National Cemetery, where they can connect with other veterans and reflect on their service.
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Saturday’s flight included three Korean War veterans, 16 Vietnam War veterans, one between World War II and Korea, and two between Korea and Vietnam. Plus, 22 guardians and six Honor Flight staff members also accompanied them on the trip.
The veterans left from the Jacksonville International Airport early Saturday morning and returned home to more than 100 people welcoming them.
The veterans were smiling as they walked by the people clapping and cheering them on while holding signs and balloons.
Ray Arrington, 97, was the oldest veteran on the trip. He described the trip as “Long and wonderful.”
He said he served in the army from 1946 to 1948.
“I’m just thankful to the Lord we were able to do it,” Arrington said.
His family said he started building his strength a few weeks ago to prepare.
“He lives at Beach House so he has been training as far as getting up every morning and walking a mile to two miles, through just working up his physical abilities so that he can do this. He was looking forward to it, nothing was going to stop him,” Holly Caplan said.
Arrington said he enjoyed having his daughter on the trip with him because she helped push him around in D.C.
This flight marked the organization’s sixth flight since 2020.