Last week our family enjoyed a unique experience. On Wednesday evening, the four of us went to Spokane International Airport not to hop on a plane but to welcome a special group of people back.

Sloan, Sidney, and Beau at the Spokane International Airport to welcome back veterans who were on the most recent Inland Northwest Honor Flight.

We cheered as 90 veterans (89 Vietnam vets and 1 Korean War vet) returned home from a whirlwind trip to Washington D.C. to visit the memorials relevant to the wars they fought in.

This trip was made possible by Honor Flight, a national network that flies veterans free of charge to our nation’s capital for these very meaningful experiences. Honor Flight has chapters throughout the country and the Inland Northwest Honor Flight group was the local organization responsible for the crew we welcomed back on Wednesday.

Sloan, Sidney, and Beau pose for a photo in the middle of welcoming veterans home who went to Washington D.C. as part of an Inland Northwest Honor Flight experience.

Sidney spearheaded our journey out to the airport. Her employer, Traveler’s, is a major supporter of veterans and for many years has sent an employee presence to Honor Flight departures and returns. When we entered the airport and made it to the terminal ticketing area, Sidney immediately saw some of her colleagues and we went to stand with them.

Sidney welcomed back the veterans with Sloan/Beau and her Traveler’s colleagues as she

Prior to leaving, Sloan had made welcome home signs for her and Beau (so cute). When we arrived at the airport, we were equipped with additional signs and American flags. Although the flight was delayed more than 90 minutes, our children waited patiently for its arrival.

Beau holds his sign that Sloan made him as we drove to the airport.

When the veterans landed and deplaned, they found a large stanchion-formed walkway for them to stroll down. Each side of the walkway was lined with cheering people thrusting signs, waving flags, and clapping their hands. For many of the Vietnam veterans who either received no welcome or a very hostile rebuke when they originally returned to the U.S. from the war, this was finally the homecoming they had long deserved.

A look at how supporters lined both sides of stanchions to welcome home veterans aboard the Inland Northwest Honor Flight.

I appreciate Sidney’s enthusiasm and insistence for us to attend. I think it showed our children that veterans should always be treated with gratitude and respect. Sid is already talking about attending next year and how we need to get a little bit closer to the stanchions so we can give handshakes and high fives to our heroes 😊. Don’t Blink.