Honor Flight Arizona has been in operation since 2009, providing over 4,000 veterans with the opportunity to visit war memorials in Washington D.C. at no cost to them.
On Wednesday, more than three dozen Arizona veterans embarked on a three-day trip to the nation’s capital to visit their respective war memorials, courtesy of Honor Flight Arizona, a non-profit organization.
Diane A. Franzese, the leader of the Arizona Hub, shared that the organization fundraises to coordinate five to ten flights each year for the veterans.
Accompanying the veterans on the trip are volunteer guardians who provide assistance throughout the journey. One guardian, Jane Przeslica, expressed her excitement to listen to the veterans’ stories and support them during their experience.
The trip is described as a “visit of thanks and remembrance” by Franzese, offering veterans the chance to see their memorials and be treated with the utmost respect and honor.
Lawrence Moody, a Marine veteran, eagerly anticipated the opportunity to honor his father at the WWII memorial, sharing poignant stories of his father’s service in the Pacific.
Throughout the trip, veterans like Moody and Margaret Waldron, a Navy veteran, enjoyed connecting with each other, sharing experiences, and reflecting on their time in the service.
Waldron, who served in the Navy in the late 1950s, emphasized the importance of the monuments in D.C. and how they symbolize the nation’s gratitude towards all veterans, regardless of gender.
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