Carrying the mission forward: Honor Flight today

Editor's Note: This article is the second in a three-part series exploring the origins, impact and enduring legacy of the Honor Flight program. In advance of the historic first Honor Flight to be conducted on a military aircraft Sept. 21, we look back at how a simple idea near Wright-Patterson Air Force Base grew into a national movement that continues to honor America's veterans. This milestone flight, made possible through close collaboration with the Air Force Reserve and key support from the 445th Airlift Wing, marks a new chapter in the program's evolution, blending tradition with military partnership to elevate its mission.

Nineteen years and more than 300,000 veterans later, the mission that began with a few small aircraft in Ohio has grown into a nationwide movement, yet its heart remains the same.

"Every trip is unique," said Al Bailey, Honor Flight Dayton president. "But every trip changes lives. Veterans tell us it was the best day of their life. Families tell us they never stopped talking about it."

Bailey knows that impact firsthand. A Vietnam veteran himself, he has spent nearly two decades leading 177 flights with over 12,000 veterans, 143 of which were Honor Flight Dayton. Along the way, he helped launch two dozen other Honor Flight hubs across the nation.

What keeps him going, he said, is simple, "The look on their faces, the tears when they finally hear 'thank you.' That's our reward."

A Mission Grows

From the beginning, Honor Flight's mission has been clear: bring America's veterans to Washington, D.C., to visit the memorials built in their honor. In the early years, the focus was on World War II veterans, who were passing away at a rate of more than a thousand each day.

But as time passed, the program opened to Korean War veterans in 2013, and in 2014, it expanded to those who served in Vietnam. For Bailey, that moment carried personal weight.

"My biggest concern was, are we opening a bubble they never wanted invaded?" he said, recalling the hostile reception many Vietnam veterans faced when returning home. "But we've never had one say they wish they hadn't gone. It's the opposite. They tell us it was the best day of their life."

For many, the trip is the first time they feel embraced by their nation. Some are greeted at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial with "welcome home" - words they waited half a century to hear.

"It's not just about seeing the memorials," Bailey said. "It's about camaraderie. It's about finally talking with other veterans who understand. It's healing."

Powered by Volunteers

Behind every flight is an army of volunteers. In Dayton alone, dozens support each mission, from coordinating buses and wheelchairs to training guardians who escort veterans on the trip.

On flight mornings, nearly 60 volunteers gather before dawn to check veterans in, unite them with their assigned guardian for the day and guide participants to the aircraft.

In the evening, when flights return, the volunteers ensure the homecoming is seamless. They help with positioning family members in prime viewing locations and aid the multiple patriotic groups to form a tunnel for the returning veterans. This welcome home is an emotional event veterans and their families deeply cherish.

"When the veterans come around the corner and hear their service medley, along with the crowd cheering, that's when the veterans start shedding tears," Bailey said. "They can't believe they're finally being thanked for what they did five decades ago."

The impact often lasts long after the trip. Bailey has seen veterans buried in the Honor Flight shirt they received - families telling him the experience was so meaningful their loved one wanted to be remembered in it.

"That's how much their Honor Flight means to the veterans," he said quietly.

Building Something Historic

This September, Honor Flight Dayton will mark another milestone: the first Honor Flight to be conducted on a U.S. military aircraft, in partnership with the Air Force Reserve's 445th Airlift Wing at Wright-Patterson AFB.

Col. Matthew Muha, the wing's deputy commander, has been instrumental in bringing the event to life. For him, the effort is personal. His father served in Vietnam and later passed away from illness linked to Agent Orange. His father-in-law, also a Vietnam veteran, remains one of the inspirations behind his commitment.

"I have a passion for veterans and really giving them respect," Muha said. "When this opportunity came up, I knew we had to make it happen."

The process wasn't simple. Military regulations on carrying civilians are strict, and Muha spent hours poring over Air Force, Air Mobility Command and U.S. Transportation Command instructions to find a path forward.

He built support from across the chain of command, coordinated with Honor Flight leadership and worked through months of planning to secure the approvals.

"There were people who doubted it was possible," Muha admitted. "But Dayton is where Honor Flight started. That makes it special and worthy of doing on a military aircraft."

A Community Effort

The 445th Airlift Wing isn't doing it alone. Local businesses, civic leaders and community sponsors have rallied to support the event. Donations have poured in, along with offers of help from city leaders and veteran service groups.

"Operation Honor is a mission that everyone has been rallying around with significance people understand and appreciate," Muha said. "They like showing their support of our veterans and active military alike. Operation Honor gives them the opportunity to show their appreciation to both at the same time"

Two C-17 Globemaster III aircraft will lift off from Wright-Patterson Sept. 21 carrying about 165 veterans, including four siblings traveling together. When they return that evening, thousands of community members will be waiting.

"It's going to feel much like a homecoming from deployment," Muha said. "Flags waving, bands playing, kids holding signs. For our Vietnam veterans especially, it's the welcome home they never received."

The Legacy Continues

For Bailey and Muha alike, the success of Honor Flight is not measured in statistics, though the numbers are striking. It's measured in the emotion of veterans who finally feel recognized, in families who see loved ones open up after years of silence, and in communities who come together to show gratitude.

"Our thanks are in their tears," Bailey said. "That's why we do it. That's why we'll keep doing it."