Two Honor Flights return to Fargo after trip to D.C.
WASHINGTON, D.C. (KVRR) — Over their three days in Washington, the veterans on the Honor Flight saw many memorials and monuments, even getting a visit from a couple Senators.
“That was interesting,” says Cal Otto.
“Really amazing, you bet. I love it,” Bernard Otto adds. But for the veteran’s the trip isn’t just about the monuments and memorials, but about the people they brought with them.
“We’ve been having a lot of fun here,” says Cal.
Bernard says, “Visiting all the memorials. That was fun to see. And Washington, D.C. period.”
The Otto Brothers, Bernard and Cal, are Army Vets from Warroad, Minnesota, making the Honor Flight tour together.
“We’ve been together all our lives, so that was pretty good,” says Cal. Bernard says, “You betcha.”
And while every veteran gets to bring a family member, Arvid Berg’s sons were determined to make sure they were all there for their dad.
Brian Berg says, “I served with dad for about half his career in the 188th Army Band in Fargo. I was in there for 20 years, and just getting to share this together, and to share that time together in the 188th was awesome. ”
For Arvid it made the trip special. “It’s hard to put it into words, because we’ve seen so much, done so many special things. And to do it together, it’s really special”
And for Chuck Evrist, the trip was a great chance to visit his nephew’s grave in Arlington National Cemetery after seeing the changing of the guard at the tomb of the Unknown Soldier.
“I attended his service there at Arlington. Which was full military honors. So I have not been back there since then, which was 34 years.”
Larry Kaiser also had a guest join him in spirit. When he told a coworker about the Honor Flight, she mentioned that her father had served in Vietnam, but had never been to the memorial.
So Larry decided to bring him. Taking a print out of his last heartbeat to the Memorial Wall.
“This is huge, this is huge for her family. This is big for them too. I’m just doing this for them, but I’m doing it for me too. It’s healing.”
And upon their return home at Hector International Airport, the families that couldn’t make the trip out were there to greet their veterans.
This was the first time the Honor Flight took two planes of veterans to D.C. during one trip, and they’re hoping to continue giving those who have served this opportunity into the future.
