“It was absolutely amazing” according to Western Honor Flight board member Jim Weaver. “It was a pretty good show” added banquet Emcee and Western Honor Flight board member George Masters. “I couldn’t believe the number of people that packed the airport” said Minot Mayor and Task Force 21 member Mark Jantzer.

They were all talking about the hero’s welcome for the Western Honor Flight as it returned to Minot on Monday night. One member of the more than 1,000 gathered to welcome home the over 118 veterans who returned on the chartered Allegiant plane said “WOW! Has the airport ever been this crowded?”

Everyone on hand was already talking about the possibility of another Minot based honor flight next spring. “For the veterans, the flight is completely free. We go out and get sponsors to pick up the over $160,000 in expenses for this flight” according to Masters. “They have already scheduled back to back flights out of Bismarck this fall, and we’re pushing hard to have another Minot flight” said Weaver.

In DC the trip went off as planned, right down to the banquet speech delivered by Lt. General Bruce “Orville” Wright. The honor flight was also greeted by Congresswoman Julie Fedorachak and now Secretary Doug Burgum.
Col Jesse Lamarand, 5th Bomb Wing Command added “Thank you to all who made this happen! I am humbled and honored to see these veterans get the welcome home they deserve!”