Porter takes Honor Flight

Jack Porter of Fairfield, a U.S. Navy veteran, was among the group of military veterans aboard the Oct. 18 Honor Flight to Washington, D.C.

Honor Flight is a non-profit organization dedicated to sending veterans on free trips to Washington to visit various historical sites and war memorials built in honor of the veterans.

For many, it is a trip of a lifetime ? an emotional day for the 80- and 90-year-olds who had sacrificed so much for the freedom and liberty of the country.

The day started with getting to the Eastern Iowa Airport in Cedar Rapids by 4:30 a.m. Each veteran was met by his or her guardian, a personal escort assigned to them for the day.

Each veteran was given a shirt and cap, along with a fanny pack and camera.

After a day filled with sight-seeing they headed back to Cedar Rapids. During the flight home, they had a military mail call. Each veteran was surprised with letters from family and friends thanking them for their time and service to the country.

Hundreds of people were at the airport to welcome the veterans home, including Porter?s wife Maxine, daughter Vicky, granddaughter Casie and niece Helen with her husband Jack.

Porter entered the Navy in 1942 and was honorably discharged in 1945.