Valley veterans return to Fresno from honor flight

FRESNO, Calif. ( KSEE/KGPE ) – Valley veterans arrived back in Fresno from the Central Valley honor flight to Washington, D.C. to an unforgettable homecoming from their loved ones.

“There was a lot of emotion that we really didn’t anticipate. Things that you felt you really didn’t think you’d feel,” Vietnam Veteran Daniel Cervantes said. “It was really emotional. It was kind of in awe-inspiring.”

Cervantes says the homecoming was also emotional.

“It was difficult not to tear up. It was very, very emotional. In fact, I’m still a little emotional, but it was an amazing time to see all the people that were there and welcoming us back. It was just it was indescribable,” Cervantes said.

Mary Bunch, welcoming home her husband, describes the day he came home after fighting for his country.

“He served his country, but there was nobody to say thank you. Never. And he’s always mentioned that no one ever thanked me. So this was an honor,” Bunch said.

Veterans were also waiting to give their loved ones a hero’s welcome, one they never received themselves.

Vietnam Veteran Jose Carattini was on the 26th honor flight. He says the welcome he received upon returning replaced memories of the disrespect he received long ago.

“Coming home was my tearjerker because I have never felt so much love. You can feel the love in the air. It was so warming and I still feel it now. So I hope my friend that’s coming back feels the same way I did,” Carattini said.

Korean War Veteran John Trask, welcoming home his son, says his son, along with all veterans, deserves the welcome home he never got.

“Just makes me burst with pride that he has chosen to do this because he has the time and he could be doing many things, but this is this is special to him,” Trask said.

Some of these veterans did not come back to a welcoming country after serving their time in the war, and this hero’s welcome is meant to show them the appreciation and support that they deserve.

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