Every Hero Deserves a Homecoming

In the Permian Basin, a group of volunteers is making sure our veterans get the honor they’ve earned—some for the first time in their lives.

The Permian Basin Honor Flight, based in Midland, is part of a national nonprofit dedicated to giving veterans a powerful gift: a free, three-day trip to Washington, D.C., to visit the memorials built in their honor. These aren’t ordinary tours—they’re emotional journeys that allow veterans to reflect, remember, and be recognized for their sacrifice.

Most of the veterans who go on these trips served during World War II, the Korean War, or the Vietnam War. Many never heard "thank you" when they returned home—especially those from the Vietnam era. Honor Flight changes that. From the moment they board the plane to the moment they return home to a crowd of cheering neighbors, these heroes are celebrated.

Alongside them on the trip is a guardian—sometimes a relative, sometimes a volunteer—who’s there to support and assist. While the guardian pays their own way, the veterans never pay a dime. The entire experience is funded by generous individuals, local businesses, and community events. It’s a community effort, a labor of love, and a way for West Texas to say, “We see you. We thank you.”

At the heart of it all is a simple belief: every veteran deserves to be honored while they’re still here to feel it.

The sights are breathtaking—Arlington National Cemetery, the WWII Memorial, the Vietnam Wall—but it’s the conversations, the hugs, the tears, and the shared stories that leave the biggest impression.

The Permian Basin Honor Flight doesn’t just take veterans to D.C.—it gives them something priceless: respect, remembrance, and the chance to feel truly seen.