Story and Photography By Jim Koepnick
While you’re reading this over your morning coffee or waiting for the air show to start, there are 100 Vietnam War veterans from Northeast Wisconsin in Washington, D.C., visiting the Vietnam Veterans Memorial and remembering brothers in service who did not return from the war. It’s painful. But also healing.
That is the mission of the Yellow Ribbon Honor Flight: healing.
These specific flights for Vietnam vets were started back in 2013 by Old Glory Honor Flight of Northeast Wisconsin. With support from EAA, the annual flight from EAA AirVenture Oshkosh takes the veterans to Washington, D.C., to visit the Vietnam Wall, Arlington National Cemetery, and The Price of Freedom exhibit at the Smithsonian National Museum of American History.
“We did it because we wanted to highlight a group of vets who deserved the recognition and to give them a welcome home that they never had,” said Diane MacDonald, executive director of Old Glory Honor Flight. “We planned it to be a one-time only event, but witnessing the impact, we knew we had to see this special flight continue.”
The 2025 flight from AirVenture is the 11th annual Yellow Ribbon flight. Almost 11,000 veterans have made this special trip.
While the day in Washington is busy, things slow down a bit on the airplane ride back to Oshkosh. And during that flight home, the veterans receive a special mail call — letters written by family and friends, as well as total strangers, who care about what the veterans have gone through and want to let them know how much they are appreciated.
Sometimes there are tears. Sometimes just silence.
The special American Airlines flight lands back in Oshkosh just after the daily air show is completed. As the Airbus A321 pulls into the main plaza, a water salute is given by the fire trucks stationed in the area.
Everything is quiet for a few minutes. Those veterans needing wheelchairs make their way to the exit. It’s only after they turn and look to the west that they see the crowd of people welcoming them home. The sight actually takes your breath away because there are so many people.
While they didn’t get a welcome home back in the 1970s, these Vietnam veterans are getting a true welcome home by thousands of EAAers at AirVenture 2025.
Head to Boeing Plaza at approximately 6:15 p.m. today to welcome home Vietnam veterans aboard the 11th annual Yellow Ribbon Honor Flight as they return from a day in Washington, D.C.