Julie McCombs
The Honor Flight veterans were given a hero's welcome at Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport Tuesday night.
Julie McCombs
The young greeted the veterans.
Julie McCombs
John Vinskus salutes the crowd that gathered for the welcome home tribute.
Julie McCombs
The veterans were greeted at the Fed Ex cargo area because of the construction going on inside the GSP terminal.
Ninety World War II and Korean War veterans were members of the Upstate’s 12th Honor Flight Tuesday.
The veterans, ranging in age from the 70s to over 100, made the trip to Washington to see the memorials honoring the sacrifices soldiers made during the wars..
The photo on the home page is of PFC Hiott, 8, of the Upstate Young Marines, who was promoted hours earlier to greet the return of the veterans. Robert “Bob” Gosset is the veteran shaking Hiott’s hand.
There were 100 guardians, doctors, nurses and support staff accompanying the vets to the World War II and Korean War Memorials and the changing of the guard at the Tomb of the Unknowns at Arlington National Cemetery.
Greeting the vets on their return home were families and friends who came from all over the upstate.
Bob Gist’s wife, Helen, who turns 90 this week, was part of a group from Union to greet him upon his return. Gist didn't know that his wife or his Sunday school class would be at the airport.
Honor Flight Upstate South Carolina is a non-profit, volunteer-based organization that is dedicated to honoring our WWII and Korean War veterans, and the many sacrifices they have made to keep our nation safe and our people free. There is no cost to the veteran to participate in the program.
For more information on how to get involved, make a donation or apply as a guardian or veteran, visit here or call 864-869-8387.