First Juneteenth Honor Flight brings Black veterans to visit DC memorials

WASHINGTON — Black veterans from the Atlanta area were in D.C. Wednesday for the first-ever Juneteenth Honor Flight. The veterans planned to visit several national memorials built to honor and commemorate their service and sacrifice

The American heroes will visit the World War II Memorial, Korean War Memorial, Vietnam Veterans Memorial, Arlington National Cemetery and more. Part of the group will include a 101-year-old veteran, three Purple Heart recipients -- one of whom is also a Bronze Star recipient -- and four women veterans.

“For our inaugural Juneteenth event, we’re paying tribute to the unsung heroes of our nation, the Black veterans who selflessly served during America’s most pivotal war periods,” said Meredith Rosenbeck, Honor Flight Network chief executive officer. “These veterans will return home with a renewed sense of pride, reminded by a grateful nation that they truly made a difference for each of us.”

The Honor Flight Network is a nonprofit first formed in 2005. Since its inception, Honor Flight Network has given nearly 300,000 veterans across the country the profound experience of visiting our nation’s war memorials.

“Many African American veterans were not only charged with defending our nation, but also had to battle various limits placed upon them by society,” said John McCaskill, Honor Flight Network board member and Civil War and American historian and military educator. “The Juneteenth Honor Flight trip will highlight the extraordinary courage and resilience of Black veterans and demonstrate gratitude for their tremendous service.”

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