WASHINGTON D.C., DC — Military veterans packed into a plane departing from Knoxville on Wednesday headed for Washington D.C. The flight was part of "HonorAir," which aims to bring World War II veterans, Korean War veterans and Vietnam veterans from East Tennessee to the country's capital to visit memorials built to honor them.
It was the 32nd flight that the program has taken.
"When we return this evening, we will have flown over 4,000 veterans to our nation's capital," an organizer of the program said before departing Wednesday morning.
The program brought veterans to Arlington National Cemetery, the Navy Memorial, the World War II Memorial, the Korean War Memorial, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial and many more across Washington D.C.
Organizers said there were 22 veterans from Blount County on the trip, and Blount County Mayor Ed Mitchell spoke at the event. Knoxville Mayor Indya Kincannon also accompanied the veterans on the trip.
"We are committed to making our community a great place for veterans to live so that you have access to healthcare, so you have good housing and you have all the wonderful things that Knoxville and East Tennessee provide," she said. "Thank you to all the men and women who answer the call of service."
Congressman Tim Burchett and Knox County Mayor Glenn Jacobs also spoke Wednesday morning, before the flight took off.
"I've heard it said that the most important ones in Washington D.C. are not the tall buildings that honor famous people. They're headstones that honor our national military, and there are thousands of them. I'm sure many of you here know someone who has a headstone, or whose name is on a wall at the Vietnam Memorial," he said. "America is more than a place on a map. It's an ideal — liberty and freedom for all."