Utah veterans in Washington DC for the Honor Flight Program

PROVO — Vietnam Veteran Lloyd Williams wasn't sure a day like Monday would ever happen.

Not so much because of the free breakfast at the Provo Airport with his son, but because of the thank you's he was finally getting.

"It's nice to have a free meal once in a while," Williams said. "I remember coming home from Vietnam and no recognition whatsoever. And we're finally getting recognized and this is just absolutely fantastic."

Coming home from the Vietnam War wasn't easy for those who served there, which makes Veterans Day even more special.

"It was absolutely lousy and I haven't talked to a Vietnam veteran that got welcomed home. It wasn't good," Williams said. "I'll tell you what, there's a lot of emotion. Lots of emotion."

Williams is one of 75 veterans chosen to go to Washington, D.C., as part of the Utah Honor Flight. It's an organization full of volunteers who fly veterans to our nation's capitol to see the war memorials and military sites.

"It means the world to us," said Stephanie Harmon, director of Utah Honor Flight. This is the 27th Honor Flight Harmon has been a part of and she says it never gets old.

"It's hard to listen to them tell us thank you, especially when they sacrificed so much — and they're telling us thank you just for a trip to D.C. — so it's amazing," Harmon said.

The veterans arrived at the Provo airport at about 5 a.m. Monday. They attend with a companion they select to help them on the two-day trip. But more than seeing the commemorative sites is the feeling they get when someone sees the group thank them, especially Vietnam vets.

"It's an honor to be honored," Ed Alpers, a Vietnam veteran from Parowan, said. "I saw friends come back from (Vietnam) and they got egged and tomatoed.

"It's nice to have the American people behind us. We love this country."

For some, too, it may be the only chance they'll get to see the memorials at the nation's capital.

"I have never been to Washington, D.C., so this is really special for me," Williams said.

It is a fast, jam-packed schedule of seeing the sights, but everyone says it is worthwhile and they were very much looking forward to the trip.

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