Honor Flight Arizona has returned to the skies after a two-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The nonprofit organization flies veterans of World War II, the Korean War and the Vietnam War, as well as disabled veterans of more recent conflicts, to Washington, D.C. at no charge to give them a chance to see “their” memorials. Three flights have already been completed this fall, plus a fourth that took place from Oct. 25 to 27.

Sedona resident Dean Campbell, a career naval officer and a Vietnam veteran, was a passenger on one of Honor Flight Arizona’s most recent trips, which returned to Phoenix on Oct. 13. Campbell had made two previous flights as a guardian, accompanying veterans to assist them with mobility issues, but this time joined as an honoree.

“All three flights were a wonderful experience,” Campbell said.

“When Dean came home from that first Honor Flight he was the total antithesis of ‘speechless,’” Campbell’s wife Helen added. “He couldn’t stop talking about the emotions the World War II veterans were experiencing. Tears, stories and memories flowed. And smiles and laughter, too.”

Honor Flight was founded in 2005 by former Air Force captain Earl Morse and a number of his aviator friends who donated their time and aircraft to fly veterans to Washington. Susan Howe started the network’s Arizona branch in 2008 as the first such program in the western U.S., making Arizona the 28th state to join the network. Today, the state’s operation has two divisions: Honor Flight Tucson, which serves veterans in the Tucson and Yuma areas, and Honor Flight Northern Arizona, which serves the rest of the state.

Since Honor Flight Arizona’s first flight in November 2009, it has transported approximately 2,500 veterans and 1,600 guardians on 94 flights. Their goal is to make 10 flights per year, with 30 to 35 veterans on each flight. There is a long waiting list; veterans of World War II are given priority, followed by those of the Korean and Vietnam conflicts. On their first October trip this year, the senior veteran taking part was 104 years old.

An Honor Flight excursion lasts for three days in order to accommodate the physical limitations of many disabled veterans. On the first day, veterans and guardians fly from Phoenix to Baltimore. Their second day in Washington is spent visiting their memorials. Stops at the USMC Memorial and Arlington National Cemetery are part of every tour. Additional locations, including the WWII, Korea, Vietnam, Lincoln and Franklin Delano Roosevelt memorials, as well as the U.S. Navy Museum and U.S. Air Force Memorial, are included depending on the periods and branches of service of participating veterans.

Previous Honor Flight trips included meetings with U.S. Sen. Bob Dole, a strong supporter of the program who often greeted fellow veterans at the WWII Memorial. His widow, U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Dole, chaired the organization’s special event in May 2022 to commemorate the 250,000th veteran flown. On some trips, veterans are also hosted for dinner at Fort Myer, next to Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia, before returning to Phoenix on the third day of the trip.

Honor Flight participation is entirely free for veterans. Guardians make a donation of $1,300 to cover their own expenses on a trip. Guardians aid Honor Flight attendees by pushing their wheelchairs, helping them on and off buses and assisting them with any other needs. Those who are “medically trained, veterans, active duty military personnel and volunteers who have previously participated in a flight are given top priority and serve as leadership members,” the organization’s website specifies. “Applicants physically capable of assisting in the lifting of veterans are also a top priority.” ROTC cadets from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Prescott have served as guardians on a number of flights, which also include medical teams.

Honor Flight is a 100% volunteer organization and donations from supporters are its sole source of revenue. The Honor Flight Arizona branch usually receives between $400,000 and $500,000 in annual contributions, although in 2020 this fell to about $250,000.

Significant sponsors have included the Daughters of the American Revolution, the Sons of the American Revolution and the Elks Club. Southwest Airlines, the organization’s primary carrier, provides discounted travel rates, and Hilton Hotels allows Honor Flight the use of its Baltimore location near the airport for the convenience of veterans. Texas resident Gaye Platt, an avid supporter of Honor Flight Arizona, contributed about $500,000 to the program over multiple years.

Relatives of participating veterans tend to express unqualified admiration for the organization and how well it carries out its mission. “My dad had an amazing time and had nothing but wonderful things to say about the generosity and kindness everyone displayed,” said Mary Silva, of Goodyear. Honor Flight “gave him an opportunity to finally find some peace after all these years. My family and I are beyond grateful!”

“The greatest honor of my life was being my dad’s guardian,” Cindy Harms, of Phoenix, agreed.

In addition to Dean Campbell of Sedona and Ted Kuntz of Cottonwood, between 30 and 40 veterans from the Verde Valley have taken part in Honor Flight since the program’s inception. The Campbells hope to raise awareness of Honor Flight in order to bring it to the notice of more Verde Valley veterans who may wish to participate.

Dean Campbell spoke with regret of his two elder brothers, both WWII veterans, who were never able to see the WWII Memorial. “I would have loved to be a guardian for them,” he said. He urged others to consider serving as guardians on an Honor Flight.

“Dean always wants to talk about Honor Flight because he thinks it’s absolutely amazing,” Helen Campbell said.