BAKERSFIELD, CA- It was a huge heroes welcome home Thursday night at Meadows Field, as hundreds of people awaited the arrival of our veterans from their whirlwind trip to Washington D.C.
Banners, posters and patriotic music filled the lobby as the 10th Honor Flight group touched back down from the trip of a lifetime. For many family members it was a time to celebrate their loved ones who fought for our nation, but it was also a time to commemorate a trip that was a long time coming.
The Perez family is one of many crowded inside Meadows Field to give the greatest generation the warmest welcome home.
"It is such an honor for our family to be here to honor our father that is so deserving to go to this Honor Flight and we're all excited," said Rachel Perez whose father went on this Honor Flight.
Stanley Perez is one of the 75 local veterans returning from the 10th Kern County Honor Flight. He and his new buddies received a hero's welcome home.
"It was an honor to be with them i met quite a few people and I talked to them and I can't describe it," said Korean War veteran Stanley Perez.
Not everyone in the audience was family, many people just wanted to cheer our local veterans on as they returned. Young Kelsey Holloway-Rizo raised enough money at her lemonade stand to send a vet to the capital.
Her message to her local vets was simple.
"I hope you had a great day, two days at the memorial and I hope you had the best experience of your life," Holloway-Rizo said.
They had smiles for miles as they arrived home from the nation's capital and an unforgettable trip. Celebrating their battle years ago, that have protected our freedoms today.
"It's hard to go describe what it's really like to go over there and I'd like to go back," Perez said.
The trip is free to our veterans, thanks to donations from our community to Honor Flight Kern County.
Banners, posters and patriotic music filled the lobby as the 10th Honor Flight group touched back down from the trip of a lifetime. For many family members it was a time to celebrate their loved ones who fought for our nation, but it was also a time to commemorate a trip that was a long time coming.
The Perez family is one of many crowded inside Meadows Field to give the greatest generation the warmest welcome home.
"It is such an honor for our family to be here to honor our father that is so deserving to go to this Honor Flight and we're all excited," said Rachel Perez whose father went on this Honor Flight.
Stanley Perez is one of the 75 local veterans returning from the 10th Kern County Honor Flight. He and his new buddies received a hero's welcome home.
"It was an honor to be with them i met quite a few people and I talked to them and I can't describe it," said Korean War veteran Stanley Perez.
Not everyone in the audience was family, many people just wanted to cheer our local veterans on as they returned. Young Kelsey Holloway-Rizo raised enough money at her lemonade stand to send a vet to the capital.
Her message to her local vets was simple.
"I hope you had a great day, two days at the memorial and I hope you had the best experience of your life," Holloway-Rizo said.
They had smiles for miles as they arrived home from the nation's capital and an unforgettable trip. Celebrating their battle years ago, that have protected our freedoms today.
"It's hard to go describe what it's really like to go over there and I'd like to go back," Perez said.
The trip is free to our veterans, thanks to donations from our community to Honor Flight Kern County.