While the Polk Veterans Council has been conducting these missions since 2015, this specific trip was dedicated entirely to women veterans, honoring their unique contributions to the U.S. Armed Forces.
The group behind the flight said that the mission took about two years to plan and took about $200,000 in fundraising.
“This is an honor for us. I’m going to start crying. It’s amazing. What the people did to put it all together,” said Joan Johnson, a Navy veteran.
Mission Highlights
- The Group: 159 female veterans flew to Washington, D.C., representing every branch of the military and conflicts ranging from the Korean War to the present day.
- Years of Service: Collectively, the women on this flight provided 1,474 years of service to the country.
- The Oldest Veteran: Among the participants was a 91-year-old Korean War veteran.
- D.C. Itinerary: The day included visits to the national memorials and a special stop at the Military Women’s Memorial at Arlington National Cemetery.
The Homecoming
The veterans returned to Lakeland yesterday evening around 7:45 PM. As is tradition for these missions, they were met with a massive “welcome home” celebration—something many veterans from earlier eras didn’t receive when they originally finished their service. The event featured live music from the Lakeland Concert Band and a crowd of community members dressed in red, white, and blue.
I am a veteran would love to be part of this organization. Been on 3 honor flights. One as the veteran. One as a Guardian and lastly as a volunteer asked by organization to help. Wondering how much it would cost to part of this organization.
I think this is wonderful for all those women to have such a great trip. They sure earned it!