Veterans Overwhelmed By Turnout At Honor Flight Homecoming

CLEARWATER, FL -- Seventy-three war veterans departed from St. Pete-Clearwater International Airport early Tuesday morning, Sept. 11, on a trip they'll never forget.

But, as it turned out, the most memorable part of the journey was the homecoming.

As veterans of the 35th Honor Flight of West Central Florida stepped off the chartered plane Tuesday night and into the airport lobby, they were greeted by a crowd of 2,000 cheering people.

Some of the veterans couldn't hold back the tears as active-service military members saluted them and family and friends hugged them. It was the hero's homecoming they'd always dreamed of but never received when they returned home from the unpopular conflicts in Korea and Vietnam.

"Thanks to St. Pete-Clearwater International Airport for your graciousness in making this a a true hero's welcome home," said Honor Flight of West Central Florida President April Dennis Currie.

After spending the day in Washington, D.C., visiting the memorials built in their honor, the veterans were ready to call it a day when they arrived back in Clearwater at 8:14 p.m. They had no idea that there was one more surprise awaiting them.

It was a homecoming decades in the making, and airport director Tom Jewsbury said he was grateful to be a part of it. Since the Honor Flight of West Central Florida began, the airport has hosted 2,700 veterans on their way to the nation's Capitol.

"We continue to be honored to host our veterans to thank them for their dedicated service," Jewsbury said. "We enjoy celebrating with the community in welcoming our veterans home to PIE from their day of honor."

See related story:

73 Veterans To Head To Washington Sept. 11 On Honor Flight

Images via Honor Flight of West Central Florida

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