Mississippi veterans receive trip to the nation’s capital
Gulfport, Miss (WXXV)- A group of Mississippi veterans received a long-overdue honor, all thanks to a partnership between WoodmenLife and the Honor Flight Network.
27 Mississippi veterans were honored with a once-in-a-lifetime trip to Washington, D.C., just getting back home from that trip on June 17th.
From June 15th to the 17th, these heroes – who served in World War II, Korea, and Vietnam – visited national memorials built in their honor.
The all-expenses-paid journey included guardians for support and departures from Gulfport-Biloxi International, Jackson and Memphis.
At every stop, volunteers and loved ones welcomed them back home with cheers, flags and gratitude.
Those who came to greet our local heroes as they returned home talked about the powerful meaning behind these trips.
“This is all about them. And just something that WoodmenLife has sponsored here in Mississippi. Most of them, most of our veterans from here served in Vietnam,” said Shawn Lizana, the recruiting sales manager for WoodmenLife. “And when they returned from Vietnam, they did not get a very good welcome. This is just an opportunity to send them to see what they help serve our country and, you know, what it all stands for.”
WoodmenLife says the effort reflects their ongoing commitment to patriotism, family and community in South Mississippi.
