"We begin at the end: a hero’s welcome at Chicago’s Midway Airport. Hundreds of loved ones, servicemembers and strangers cheer and wave flags. For me, usually among those welcoming veterans home, to see it from the inside was humbling.
For 10 years I’ve stood on the ground side of Honor Flight Chicago, but this time I traveled as an escort for my friend Lee, a Marine and co-founder of a veteran charity with me. It was his turn to make the journey.
The day began at zero dark thirty, arriving at the airport at 0400 for a process run with military precision. Uniforms, name tags, tickets - 119 veterans and 50 support personnel were checked in and ready. At the gate, we shared food, camaraderie and Wayne Messmer's national anthem before boarding.
Landing in Washington, we were greeted by a law enforcement color guard, Civil War reenactors and cheering crowds. With police escorts, our buses rolled to the Iwo Jima Memorial - fittingly powerful for a Marine. At the World War II Memorial, veterans were honored in a special ceremony, with red-shirted medical staff and volunteers supporting us at every stop.
At the Lincoln Memorial, emotions reached their peak. For 114 Vietnam-era veterans, this stop carried deep weight. Surrounding us were the Vietnam Wall, the Women’s Memorial and the Korean War Memorial. Some veterans stood silent, others wept, some smiled at memories of comrades now etched in stone. Each reaction was unique, each profoundly human. As Lee reflected, he was grateful to see the places that ensure sacrifice will never be forgotten.
We cooled off at the Smithsonian’s Air and Space Museum before heading back. At the airport, Freedom 1 - a Southwest jet painted like the American flag - awaited us. Mid-flight came “Mail Call,” an emotional moment when letters from loved ones, children and even leaders were handed out.
As we landed in Chicago, first responders saluted with lights flashing and water cannons arching over the plane. Inside, thousands lined the terminal, led by the Chicago Emerald Society pipes and drums. Veterans walked through waves of applause before reuniting with family.
That night, I left Lee to embrace his loved ones, then returned to mine. For a decade, I’ve welcomed Honor Flight veterans home, but walking alongside one—my friend—gave me a new perspective. The Honor Flight is more than a trip. It’s a living tribute, ensuring every veteran knows their service is remembered, honored and cherished."
—Sean McNamara
