LAS VEGAS (KTNV) — The Honor Flight of Southern Nevada welcomed back 18 veterans of the World War II, Korean, and Vietnam wars back to Las Vegas on Sunday after their trip to Washington, D.C.
13 Action News Anchor Kalyna Astrinos talked with one of the veterans Joseph Whetstone before his trip across the country.
Whetstone, a 20-year veteran who served through the ends of the Korean and Vietnam wars, kept a note on his fridge with the dates of each memorial tour listed on it every day in anticipation of the trip.
Some of the dates were crossed out as the pandemic delayed the journey, and Whetstone wrote new ones below in anticipation of the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
"They always told me once you see the memorial and you're there, and you look at the results, you know seeing what's actually in front of you, they say it's pretty overwhelming," he said.
Whetstone said he wanted to replace the note with a picture of himself in front of the memorials.
The Honor Flight of Southern Nevada regularly brings veterans to D.C. to honor and thank them, and the group never charges the veterans for the trip.
#TODAY: The Honor Flight will bring 18 veterans of WWII, the Korean War and the Vietnam war home to Las Vegas from touring war monuments in Washington DC
Flight lands at 2:45, and many people will be there to thank them for their service!
FULL STORY @KTNV: https://t.co/XeGbnv3x4U pic.twitter.com/aJzZgK2Db6— @SeanKTNV (@seanktnv) October 17, 2021