COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- With its latest mission Thursday, Honor Flight Columbus has now taken 10,000 veterans to Washington D.C. to see memorials in honor of the wars they served in.
The trip is free for veterans. Thursday was the nonprofit's 136th mission. The concept was started in Ohio by Earl Morse, founder of Honor Flight and cofounder of Honor Flight Network. The retired Air Force captain wanted to make sure as many World War II veterans as possible got to see the memorial in the nation's capital. So in 2005, he and other volunteer pilots took 12 veterans on small planes.
"If this country felt it was important enough for them to have a memorial, then we at Honor Flight believe it's just as important they get to experience their memorial," Morse said.
The program has since grown and taken off. Almost 20 years later, chartered commercial planes and volunteer guardians are used for the missions. They also take Korean War and Vietnam War veterans, and Morse said they'll keep taking others as times change.
"They’re going to get on the plane, they’re going to go home and they’re going to realize their friends’ sacrifice will never be forgotten by this nation," Morse said. "Absolutely not. And at Honor Flight we’re able to make that dream a reality they can see and experience and witness first hand this nation cherishes them and their service and the sacrifice of their friends."
92 veterans, including the Labadie brothers, were on Honor Flight Columbus Mission 136. Bob Labadie, a Vietnam War veteran who lives in central Ohio, said he would only go if his brother, Jim, could also go. Jim Labadie, also a Vietnam War veteran, lives in Alabama. Honor Flight Columbus made it happen.
“I’m kind of looking forward to it but there’s a lot of pent up energy from unresolved issues," Bob Labadie said before the flight.
The brothers were some of the first to arrive at John Glenn International Airport.
“Kind of excited, it's something the Vietnam era guys never got," Jim Labadie said before the flight.
After some photos and paperwork, they were on the plane with the other veterans and guardians. The first stop was at Arlington National Cemetery to witness The Changing of the Guard. Then, Mission 136 stopped at the Air Force Memorial. The afternoon included time at the Vietnam War Memorial, where the brothers got their pins from their guardian and reflected.
“Seeing the memorials and all that stuff as just a visitor was pretty freeing," Bob said.
Eventually, the veterans were back on the plane and on the way back to Columbus for the final part of Mission 136, the welcome home. The terminal was packed with family, friends, and other community members giving the veterans a reception they did not get when they first came home.
“It was quite a moving experience actually," Jim Labadie said. "Don't know what to expect coming back but it was great to see little ones all the way up to the adults and everybody was saying thank you."
The Labadies were together every step of the day.
“It was huge to have him along," Bob Labadie said. "We were able to reconcile, put some solution, put some sauce on the whole process by one of them brotherly hugs at the wall, its stuff only he and I will be able to pass at that time."
Bob Labadie said that while he was hesitant at the beginning, he would highly recommend Honor Flight to other veterans. Honor Flight Columbus' next mission is on Oct. 31. Information on how to support their work can be found here.
