On April 18-19, 2026, the Buffalo-Niagara Honor Flight flew 34 Korean War, Cold War and Vietnam-era veterans to Washington, D.C., for a weekend to remember. On Saturday, veterans visited the World War II Memorial, Korean War Veterans Memorial, Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall and Vietnam Women’s Memorial on the National Mall.
Throughout the day, veterans were greeted by strangers, young students, fellow veterans and visitors from around the world eager to shake the hand of a hero. The reception from total strangers was a welcome sight for many who never received a proper “Welcome Home.”
At the Korean War Veterans Memorial, Marine veteran Russell Casterline, a Purple Heart recipient, received recognition from the Korean Consulate for his important role in liberating South Korea.
Sunday began with a stop at Arlington National Cemetery, where four veterans were selected to participate in a wreath-laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. This was followed by a stop at the Iwo Jima Memorial. The Brownies, a group of Honor Flight motorcyclists, braved the rain to honor the heroes and speak with the veterans. The next stop was the Jefferson Memorial, where our veterans received another unexpected surprise - a group of District of Columbia (D.C.) National Guard members.
The D.C. National Guard, formed in 1802, comprises more than 2,400 soldiers and airmen. It is the only National Guard unit that reports solely to the president of the United States. The unit provides mission-ready personnel and units for active duty in the event of war or a national emergency.
During our visit to the Jefferson Memorial, numerous unit members approached and spoke with our veterans, with support flowing from the top down. U.S. Army Brig. Gen. Leland D. Blanchard, commanding general (interim) of the D.C. National Guard, was one of the first to welcome our group.
As commanding general, he leads the strategic leadership, training, readiness, operational employment and performance of the Army and Air Force components of the D.C. National Guard. Blanchard oversees Joint Force Headquarters-Air, which includes the 113th Wing’s F-16 Fighting Falcon that secures the skies over the nation’s capital 24/7, and the C-40 Clipper that transports members of Congress and other dignitaries globally. He also oversees the D.C. Army National Guard’s Land Component Command, including the 260 Special Purpose Brigade, 260th Regiment (Regional Training Institute), 1-224th Aviation Security and Support Battalion, and 1-226th General Support Aviation Battalion, which consists of the UH-60 Black Hawk, UH-72 Lakota and C-26 Metroliner.
On a personal level, as the American Legion Department of New York chaplain and crisis counselor for Buffalo-Niagara Honor Flight, it was an honor for me to escort our veterans, but it was a blessing to witness the compassion of our present-day defenders and the interaction between them and our past heroes.
On behalf of the Buffalo-Niagara Honor Flight, thank you to all who support our heroes, and a special thanks to the D.C. National Guard and Brig. Gen. Blanchard for keeping our nation’s capital safe.