Honor Flight return to Spokane

Hundreds greeted the returning veterans who had just visited the military memorials in the nation's capital courtesy of Honor Flight, a non-profit group who take the elderly veterans at no cost to them.

Section:Gallery

Wed., April 19, 2017

World War II Army veteran Jim Baumann, right, is greeted and thanked by hundreds of strangers after his evening flight from Washington, D.C., Tuesday, April 18, 2017, to Spokane International Airport. The first Honor Flight trip of the year took place Monday and Tuesday, a chance for veterans from World War II, Korea and Vietnam to visit the war memorials in the nation's capital.

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Hundreds of people cram into the main terminal at the Spokane International Airport, Tuesday, April 18, 2017, to greet the latest group of veterans to return from their Honor Flight, a trip to see the war memorials in Washington D.C. Inland Northwest Honor Flight raises to money to send the veterans, especially those who are elderly, or even terminally ill, on the trip for free.

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The Medical Lake High School band plays in the main terminal at the Spokane International Airport, Tuesday, April 18, 2017, to greet the latest group of veterans to return from their Honor Flight, a trip to see the war memorials in Washington D.C. Inland Northwest Honor Flight raises to money to send the veterans, especially those who are elderly, or even terminally ill, on the trip for free.
Veteran Pete Budig, center, poses for photos with family and friends after getting off the airplane from Washington, D.C., Tuesday, April 18, 2017, at Spokane International Airport. Budig had just finished his Honor Flight, a trip to D.C. to see the war memorials. As is the tradition, hundreds of people, many of them strangers, greet a returning flight.

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World War II Coast Guard veteran Michael Brewer, seated, is pushed in a wheelchair by his wife Marj as he is greeted and thanked by hundreds of strangers after his evening flight from Washington, D.C., Tuesday, April 18, 2017, to Spokane International Airport. The first Honor Flight trip of the year took place Monday and Tuesday, a chance for veterans from World War II, Korea and Vietnam to visit the war memorials in the nation's capital.

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Military veteran Carl Anderson, seated, pauses for a family photo with, from left, granddaughter Ashley Littlewood, son Percy Anderson and his wife Naomi after he got off the plane from Washington, D.C., and his Honor Flight trip Tuesday, April 18, 2017, at Spokane International Airport. Honor Flight is a non-profit that raises money to send the most elderly military veterans to the nation's capital to see the war memorials.

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Weary military veterans, like Alphonse Zareski, far left, and their helpers walk a lengthy receiving line after stepping off the airplane from Washington, D.C., Tuesday, April 18, 2017, in Spokane. Family, friends, strangers, other veterans and even the Medical Lake school band greeted the returning vets. The group had been on the first Honor Flight of the year, a chance for elderly veterans to see their war memorials in the nation's capital.

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Tom Iverson, a Vietnam War Navy veteran, takes in the scene as his wheelchair is pushed through the crowd that welcomed the first Honor Flight trip of the year upon its return to Spokane Tuesday, April 18, 2017. Honor Flight makes several trips a year, taking military veterans to see the war memorials in the nation's capital on a whirlwind two-day trip.

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Elderly veterans stop and greet the many young people who attended the return of the first Honor Flight group of the year at Spokane International Airport Tuesday, April 18, 2017. Honor Flight tries to take the most elderly military veterans to Washington, D.C., to see the war memorials.

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Members of various youth organizations, including the Young Marines, Civil Air Patrol and the Cub Scouts greeted the returning Honor Flight Tuesday, April 18, 2017, at Spokane International Airport. Hundreds greeted the returning veterans who had just visited the military memorials in the nation's capital courtesy of Honor Flight, a non-profit group who take the elderly veterans at no cost to them.

Jesse Tinsley The Spokesman-Review Buy this photo