On Sunday, the High Plains Honor Flight was a long-awaited event for Vietnam War veteran C. J. Brown, who said he struggled to find his footing when he returned home from combat in 1969.
“When I came home 50 years ago, we were villains and baby killers,” Brown said, as he was waiting at the Thomas M. McKee 4-H Building Sunday to board a bus to Northern Colorado Regional Airport. High Plains Honor Flight, a volunteer-run national nonprofit, honors war veterans with an all-expense paid trip to Washington, D.C., to visit the nation’s memorials. “I’ve gone from … serving in a war that was uncomfortable until now, to a real-life person, and wherever you go, people are very respectful and thank you for your service.”
Brown, who was a combat medic from 1968-1969, has since served on the Cheyenne City Council in Wyoming, worked for the Wyoming Department of Transportation and is an ordained minister.
“I’m not sure what to expect,” he said. This will be Brown’s second visit to Washington, D.C., and his first one was 20 years ago, he said. “I’m just trying to leave myself open to the possibilities.”
Brown is one of 120 veterans who embarked on an honor flight to the nation’s capital on Sunday — most are Vietnam War veterans, two served in the Korean War and one veteran who served in both wars.
Since 2005, Honor Flight has flown nearly 320,000 veterans to Washington, D.C., in all-expense paid trips to honor them for their service. The Northern Colorado Honor Flight was established in 2008 by retired U.S. Army Col. Stan Cass, but shuttered operations in 2018 after Cass died at age 84. In 2019, Northern Colorado Honor Flight Board Member Matt Voris created the High Plains Honor Flight in Northern Colorado, which serves Colorado, Wyoming and Nebraska.
“My first exposure was out there on motorcycles, riding in the escort down to the DIA (Denver International Airport),” Voris said during the ceremony before veterans departed. “When I saw the expression and the emotions on the veterans that were on that flight, I knew I had to find out more — about, what is this thing called Honor Flight?”
Voris said that Sunday’s trip marks the 27th out of Northern Colorado since 2008, and when the veterans return Monday evening, they will be among the 3,800 others in the region to complete their honor flight. Chaperones, called “guardians,” will accompany them.
Veteran Bruce Kemp said he was excited for the honor flight, especially since he said he had to postpone his original trip in 2023 due to health concerns.
“I’m looking forward to seeing all the newer monuments,” he said, noting that he hasn’t been to the United States capital since the 1970s. “It’s nice to be with some Vietnam vets, everyone stuck their nose in the air when I came home.”
Each flight is funded by the community, Voris said, noting that with aircraft fare, chartered buses, meals, and honor flight memorabilia, each trip ends up being around $250,000.
He said that he looks forward to more visits.
“Our plan is to continue honor flight as long as the funds hold true,” Voris said. “Every single one of them deserves a thank you and a welcome home.”
Along the “Escort of Heroes,” veterans received cheers of support from community members who were stationed all along the route to the airport, many waving American flags and cheering as buses drove past.