Veterans tour memorials during O&A Honor Flight

HIGHFILL — At 5:30 a.m. April 19, three buses carrying a cargo more precious than gold or silver arrived at the front entrance to the Northwest Arkansas Regional Airport (XNA). On board was a group of men and women who once proudly served this country in the name of freedom.

Seventy-five military veterans from World War II, Korea and Vietnam, along with their guardians and volunteers, made their way into the airport to catch a chartered flight from Northwest Arkansas to Washington, D.C., aboard the 2017 O&A Honor Flight.

Veterans from all across the Midwest made their way down the airport concourse to gate A6, where they waited to board a chartered aircraft bound for the nation’s capitol. Included in this year’s flight were three veterans from Decatur, C.L. Abercrombie, Robert Foreman and Jerry Langley, and one veteran from Gentry, Bob Sykes.

Abercrombie served in the army during the Korean conflict from 1951-1953. Foreman, Langley and Sykes all served in Vietnam.

The group was entertained by the Dazzling Diamonds Chorus, a group of local women who wanted to show their support to the veterans. They provided a variety of patriotic and service songs to keep morale high during the long wait.

After boarding was complete, American Airline flight 9459 pulled back from the gate at about 7:15 a.m. As the aircraft taxied to the intersection of taxiway Bravo and Juliet, two crash trucks from the XNA Fire Department, one on each side of Juliet sprayed two jets of water over the aircraft as it passed by. This is known as the “arch,” a traditional way to honor retiring or retired military personnel as they depart on their last mission.

The aircraft lifted off the runway (wheels up) at 7:30 a.m. bound for a day of remembering lost friends that never returned home.

The flight arrived at Reagan International at 11 a.m. After deplaning, the group boarded buses that took them to their first destination, the World War II Memorial.

For William Townsley, a World War II veteran who served in the 1st Logical Command overseeing the occupation of Japan, this was a time of closure. But Townsley was not alone as he stood next to the WWII Memo-

rial. He was joined by his son Mark, himself a Vietnam veteran who served in the Navy. For one moment in time, the father and son shared a common bond that comes from serving their country.

After a short lunch, the tour continued with a stop at the Korean, Vietnam and Lincoln Memorials.

Then it was on to Arlington National Cemetery, where the veterans had the chance to observe the changing of the guard. Here many of the veterans took the opportunity to pay their respects to those who gave their lives to preserve, protect and defend the freedoms that we, as Americans, sometimes take for granted.

The Honor Flight’s last stop was the Iwo Jima Memorial. For the World War II veterans, particularly those who served in the Pacific theater, it was a chance to pay tribute to the 62,000 casualties which occurred during the 36-day battle.

As quickly as it began, it was time to board the plane and return home.

The Honor Flight touched down at XNA at 9:55 p.m., nearly 13 hours after its departure. After a 20-minute delay, the first wave of veterans made their way to the lobby via the elevator and escalator. When they reached the head of the receiving line, a thunderous ovation from more than 300 well-wishers greeted the returning heroes.

Two rows of American flags, one on each side, adorned the walk of honor. As the veterans made their way down the walkway, they were greeted with handshakes, gifts and a heart-felt thank you. The Arkansas Men’s Chorus presented a medley of service songs and patriotic music which ended with the Lee Greenwood classic “God Bless the USA.”

As the last veterans boarded the bus for the short journey back to the Cherokee Casino, and the last of the assembled crowd departed for points unknown, the 75 Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps and Coast Guard veterans could now look back on a special day of memories given them in thanks for their service.

Photo by Mike Eckels Two units from the Northwest Arkansas Regional Airport fire department shoot an arch of water over the chartered aircraft of the O&A Honor Flight as it taxied to runway 16 April 19 in Highfill. The arch is a time-honored tradition paying tribute to...

Photo by Mike Eckels A World War II veteran received a handshake from a well-wisher during the 2017 O&A Honor Flight welcome-home ceremony April 19 at Northwest Arkansas Regional Airport in Highfill.

Photo by Mike Eckels William Townsley (left), a World War II Army veteran, and his son Mark, a Vietnam Navy veteran, get ready to take a trip together aboard the 2017 O&A Honor Flight which departed Northwest Arkansas Regional Airport in Highfill April 19.

Photo by Mike Eckels The Dazzling Diamond Chorus, a group of local singers, serenades veterans, guardians and volunteers waiting to board the 2017 O&A Honor Flight to Washington, D.C., April 19 at Northwest Arkansas Regional Airport in Highfill.

Photo by Mike Eckels Bob Sykes from Gentry takes a moment to pose for photos as he gets ready to board the 2017 Honor Flight aircraft at XNA in Highfill April 19 for a day-tour of the many war memorials in Washington, D.C.

Photo by Mike Eckels Richard Foreman from Decatur waited to board the 2017 O&A Honor Flight which departed Northwest Arkansas Regional Airport in Highfill for a day-long trip to Washington, D.C., on April 19.

Photo by Mike Eckels C.L. Abercrombie from Decatur makes his way through the receiving line in the lobby of Northwest Arkansas Regional Airport in Highfill on his way to the bus after a day in Washington, D.C., touring the national war memorials during the 2017 O&A Honor...