FRESNO, Calif. (KSEE/KGPE) – Over 60 veterans representing 16 towns across the Central Valley are spending three days on the 33rd Central Valley Honor Flight.
Among the 67 veterans are two women, including Navy Veteran Donna Ryan of Fresno.
“That’s the first time I’ve been on an airplane where everybody was born exactly the same place for the same reason. It’s kind of exciting,” Ryan said.
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Once veterans arrive in Washington, they stop for dinner at American Legion Post 276, which is down the street from where Coast Guard Veteran Michael Hurley grew up.
“It’s going to be a completely new experience for me, even at my age and having grown up there,” Hurley said.
Hurley says passing by the home he grew up in makes this trip even more special.
“It’ll be kind of an extra little welcome for me since I’m coming home,” Hurley said.
Paul Loeffler, Co-founder and President of the Central Valley Honor Flight, says this trip was the most complicated to plan due to the government shutdown.
However, plans for visiting memorials commemorating their service remain in place.
Veterans will be returning on Wednesday at 6 p.m. for a hero’s welcome home procession at the Fresno Yosemite International Airport. The public is encouraged to attend.
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