‘It was like a closure of Vietnam’: Honor Flight veterans visit Arlington, Vietnam war memorial

ARLINGTON, Virginia ( KSEE/KGPE ) – It was a rainy morning at Arlington National Cemetery. The veterans and guardians on the 29th Central Valley Honor Flight were there to observe the Changing of the Guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.

Four veterans in the group were specifically chosen to lay down a wreath at the tomb – a huge honor for them.

Despite the solemn atmosphere, there was a moment of brightness during the gloomy day when children from a visiting school group lined up to shake hands with the veterans and thank them for their service.

“It was like a closure of Vietnam,” said veteran Rex Nunes.

Vietnam War veteran Charlie McClain said it was almost like a welcome home they never got.

“They all shook my hand and I tried to get as many of their names as I could, and they’re just fascinating kids and it just touched my heart,” McClain said.

From there, the group explored the military women’s memorial and museum, where the female veterans were individually recognized for their service.

The day wrapped up in Washington, D.C., at both the Korean and Vietnam war memorials. Many in this group served in those wars and unfortunately lost friends, family and loved ones. The wall lists the names of all the service members who died there and even includes those who remain missing.

Air Force veteran Clay Byrd, found the name of an old school friend at the memorial.

“The first one we saw was the traveling memorial, come through Tulare, and it was emotional then but not now thank goodness,” he and his wife Sandy, also a veteran, said.

After the memorials, the veterans got back on the flight to return home.

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