The departure and welcome home party for Honor Flight veterans at the Holiday Inn in Crystal Lake. Each year since 2005, the Honor Flight Network has taken a group of World War II veterans to the capitol at no charge. This is the first year the program has accepted applications from Korean and Vietnam War veterans.
World War II, Korean War, and Vietnam War veteran Esteban Rodriguez of Winthrop Harbor and his wife Adoracio Rodriguez are greeted by hundreds during the welcome home party for Honor Flight veterans Saturday, August 23, 2014 in Crystal Lake. Boy and Girl Scouts, a Big Band 17-piece orchestra, and hundreds of family and relatives were present to celebrate the arrival of World War II, Korean War, and Vietnam War veterans as they return from the Honor Flight trip to Washington D.C. Kyle Grillot - kgrillot@shawmedia.com
Navy veteran Daniel rush of Palatine (left) talks with Coast Guard veteran Abraham Rosenzweig of Woodland Hills, Calif., about their different experiences on boats during World War II before leaving with the Honor Flight network Thursday, August 20, 2014 in Crystal Lake. Each year since 2005, the Honor Flight Network has taken a group of World War II veterans to the capitol at no charge. This is the first year the program has accepted applications from Korean and Vietnam War veterans. Kyle Grillot - kgrillot@shawmedia.com
Army veteran Jim Pudlas of Freeport talks about his experience in the Vietnam War and what he plans to do during his trip to Washington D.C. with the Honor Flight network Thursday, August 20, 2014 in Crystal Lake. Each year since 2005, the Honor Flight Network has taken a group of World War II veterans to the capitol at no charge. This is the first year the program has accepted applications from Korean and Vietnam War veterans. Kyle Grillot - kgrillot@shawmedia.com
World War II, Korean War, and Vietnam War veteran Esteban Rodriguez of Winthrop Harbor (from left) talks with pastor Don Ahles and Navy veteran Donald Ahles before their trip to Washington D.C. with the Honor Flight network Thursday, August 20, 2014 in Crystal Lake. Each year since 2005, the Honor Flight Network has taken a group of World War II veterans to the capitol at no charge. This is the first year the program has accepted applications from Korean and Vietnam War veterans. Kyle Grillot - kgrillot@shawmedia.com
Korean War veteran Walter "Wally" Luettschwager of Arlington Heights (center) is helped inside by Janice Ricci (left) and Greg Padovani during the welcome home party for Honor Flight veterans Saturday, August 23, 2014 in Crystal Lake. Boy and Girl Scouts, a Big Band 17-piece orchestra, and hundreds of family and relatives were present to celebrate the arrival of World War II, Korean War, and Vietnam War veterans as they return from the Honor Flight trip to Washington D.C. Kyle Grillot - kgrillot@shawmedia.com
Boy Scout from Troop 151, Danny Pedretti, 11, of Algonquin waits for veterans to return from their trip to Washington D.C. during the welcome home party for Honor Flight veterans Saturday, August 23, 2014 in Crystal Lake. Boy and Girl Scouts, a Big Band 17-piece orchestra, and hundreds of family and relatives were present to celebrate the arrival of World War II, Korean War, and Vietnam War veterans as they return from the Honor Flight. Kyle Grillot - kgrillot@shawmedia.com
World War II veteran John Renskers of Cary greets Korean War veteran Walter "Wally" Luettschwager of Arlington Heights during the welcome home party for Honor Flight veterans Saturday, August 23, 2014 in Crystal Lake. Boy and Girl Scouts, a Big Band 17-piece orchestra, and hundreds of family and relatives were present to celebrate the arrival of World War II, Korean War, and Vietnam War veterans as they return from the Honor Flight trip to Washington D.C. Kyle Grillot - kgrillot@shawmedia.com
Joanne Savage, 16, (center) and her mother Dawn Hedrick of Arlington Heights hand out flowers to returning veterans during the welcome home party for Honor Flight veterans Saturday, August 23, 2014 in Crystal Lake. The family lost their step-brother, and son-in-law, respectively, Lance Cpl. James Stack while he serving in Afghanistan in 2010.
Korean War veteran Arthur Carlson of Des Plains is greeted by hundreds during the welcome home party for Honor Flight veterans Saturday, August 23, 2014 in Crystal Lake. Boy and Girl Scouts, a Big Band 17-piece orchestra, and hundreds of family and relatives were present to celebrate the arrival of World War II, Korean War, and Vietnam War veterans as they return from the Honor Flight trip to Washington D.C. Kyle Grillot - kgrillot@shawmedia.com
Army veteran Pat Hickey of Wheeling (left) greets Jim Pudlas of Freeport during the welcome home party for Honor Flight veterans Saturday, August 23, 2014 in Crystal Lake. Boy and Girl Scouts, a Big Band 17-piece orchestra, and hundreds of family and relatives were present to celebrate the arrival of World War II, Korean War, and Vietnam War veterans as they return from the Honor Flight trip to Washington D.C. Kyle Grillot - kgrillot@shawmedia.com
Joanne Savage, 16, of Arlington Heights grips her brother in-law's dog tags during the welcome home party for Honor Flight veterans Saturday, August 23, 2014 in Crystal Lake. Lance Cpl. James Stack, Savage's brother, was killed while he serving in Afghanistan in 2010. Kyle Grillot - kgrillot@shawmedia.com
