“The camaraderie and meeting people that did the same thing you did, just walking through D.C., is awesome,” said Warbis, one of 118 veterans on the first Honor Flight from Minot. Just as awesome were the volunteers, and even the cheering crowd that filled the Minot airport terminal to welcome the travelers home was impressive for the Army veteran, who didn’t receive that type of reception when he returned home from Vietnam.

“The amount of people that take the time to come out, we didn’t get that,” he said. “It’s really great.”

John Larson, an Air Force veteran from Bismarck, remarked on the participation of everyone from volunteers to the crowd gathered at the airport. Looking around the airport, he said, he noticed how the Honor Flight was making an impact, not just on the veterans, but also on everyone else involved.

Russell Hanson, an Army veteran from Watford City who served in Vietnam and Grenada, called the trip impressive. Although he had seen the monuments previously, he said, “This was special, being with the guys.”

Jill Schramm/MDN Veteran Kenneth Kaylor of New Town walks through the crowd gathered in the Minot airport terminal Monday to welcome home Honor Flight participants.

Roy Degenstein, one of nine Watford City volunteers on the Honor Flight, said the emotions shown in the airport were the emotions seen throughout the trip. He noted the welcome they received everywhere they went in Washington. He recalled a group of eighth graders on a field trip in Washington, who upon seeing the group of veterans, had to come to meet them.

“It was totally awesome. These guys, they felt it,” he said of the trip. “Everything was just awesome. I can’t say it no other way.”

Jill Schramm/MDN Veterans exit Minot’s airport terminal to flags and welcome home signs after their Honor Flight to Washington, D.C., Monday.