FLIGHT: When honor returns

To those who greeted our Honor Flight on Aug. 25:

Remember the song, “What a difference a day makes?” How about 50 years of resentment?

Amazing how your love, kindness and acknowledgment wiped it away.

I was one of those Vietnam veterans who returned to Spokane on Honor Flight on Aug. 25. Fast trip, 36 hours and personally so many changes. Honor Flight staff has the best people!

I want to thank all of you for coming out and welcoming us home, a welcome we Vietnam vets never experienced before.

The love you showed us is something I wish Vietnam vets had seen and felt 50 years ago. Instead, we were spit on, had drinks thrown on us and terrible names called when all we were guilty of was standing up and fighting for our country. I was drafted at 18 and wounded at 19. Came home to so much hate for us. Until now…

For those who came out and greeted us, I cannot thank you enough for showing up and showing us the love we never saw before. Your coming out changed my heart. I will never be able with just mere words to thank you enough for being there! May God Bless you all!

TOM EVANS

Vietnam ’68

Hayden Lake