My niece Lisa Chaillier, her husband Bill, my husband, Jim and I were all at the Delta County Airport Van Rooy Hanger in Escanaba to welcome home the Upper Peninsula Honor Flight XXVIII last Wednesday, May 20th...but more specifically, to welcome my brother Dennis Pini who was on the flight, accompanied by his Granddaughter, Mylie LaBeske who was his “Guardian”, as they spent the day in Washington, DC touring all the monuments there in honor of our Veterans. They didn’t know we were going to be there, so it was a fun surprise... also an emotional one as you can see by the teary faces in the fourth photo snapped by TV6, right after my brother had come off the plane and into the hanger. It was a long day for them and us, as their flight was delayed in DC by bad weather, so they didn’t touch down in Escanaba until around 11:45 p.m., about 2 hours late.

The fifth photo is also from TV6. The story behind it is the Vietnam Veteran in the photo being held by his two sons, was scheduled to be on this U.P. Honor Flight, Mission XXVIII, but he passed away a week before the trip. His sons made the trip in his honor and carried his photo with them for the day, so they could make a memory book for their family.

The last photo is what greets the Veterans as they’re leaving the airport after their Tour of Honor. The Mission of the U.P. Honor Flight is to fly Upper Peninsula Veterans who served from 1941 to May of 1975 to see the memorials that stand in their honor. This “Tour of Honor” is FREE to the veteran. Airfare, meals deluxe tour bus, t-shirt and other items are provided a NO COST to the Veteran. If you or someone you know is interested in going on a future mission, the next one is September 9th, click here to fill out an application: UP Honor Flight application. They don’t have the September Flight filled up yet and are opening it up to ALL Veterans, regardless of the time and place they served, so get signed up! These folks do a fantastic job organizing these flights to honor our Veterans.

My Nephew Bill recorded a video of my brother Dennis and his Granddaughter, Mylie as they spotted us there to welcome them home and to thank all the Veterans coming back for their service! Special thanks to Bill and Lisa who also made the signs we were holding to welcome the Veterans Home.

It's such a great thing that they do for these
veterans. For them to know that people really care
about them has to make them feel so appreciated and
respected. Great pictures and thanks to everybody
who's involved with doing this for them.

This is so amazing. Thank you Mary, for washing my
face right now!! This is so beautiful!

This is so great for our Veterans.

In my area, I've wanted to go as a guardian but they are always filled up. I was told there are far more volunteering to be guardians than there are vets signing up.