Hawaii veterans return from first Honor Flight

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – Twenty-five veterans from Hawaii returned home after the state’s first Honor Flight.

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The group included veterans of the Korean and Vietnam wars.

The Honor Flight Network offers veterans nationwide an all-expenses-paid trip to Washington, D.C.

The veterans visited war memorials in the nation’s capital, including the Vietnam Veterans Memorial.

Organizers hope the trips give veterans an opportunity to reminisce and enjoy a sense of camaraderie.

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“It was good, you know, going to see all the memorials really is very touching, I tell you,” said Vietnam veteran Stanley Salangdron. “If other veterans out there want to experience what I experienced, they should go and check out the Honor Flight system.”

Salangdron’s daughter, Kaulana, accompanied him on the trip to Washington.

“It was truly incredible, hearing the stories over the week and traveling with the Hawaiian Honor Flight as a guardian. And hearing how they didn’t get the welcome that they deserved the first time and then seeing them definitely get it this time was truly an honor and such gratitude for me as his daughter,” she said.

Stanley Salangdron said it was emotional to recall with the other veterans what they experienced during their time in Vietnam.

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