MACON, Ga. — Veterans often make incredible sacrifices on the battlefield for the country they're serving.
In honor of their selfless efforts, the Honor Flight Network has been honoring veterans with trips to Washington D.C.
Here in Central Georgia, veterans took an honor flight from Middle Georgia Regional Airport to Washington, D.C. On Saturday, they returned back to Central Georgia after their visit to D.C.
As they landed, a crowd gathered at the airport, waving flags and signs, to welcome the veterans back to Macon.
According to the Honor Flight website, the trips — which take veterans to war memorials and the sights of Washington, D.C. — hope to show "our nation's veterans the appreciation and honor they deserve."
While they do that, they give veterans the space and opportunity to connect with other veterans, remember friends lost and also share their "stories and experiences" with others.
According to organizers, the honor flight this year marks the 17th mission for veterans in Central Georgia since the local wing was founded in 2018. Of this group of veterans, two of them served in the Korean War and 11 served during the Vietnam War.
The website says that they currently only take veterans who have served during World War II, the Korean War or the Vietnam War. However, any veterans who are "critically ill" are eligible for the honor flights.
For those veterans who are part of the honor flight, the trip comes free of charge thanks to donations to the Honor Flight Network. If you want to support the honor flights for Central Georgia veterans, you can donate here.