Nearly six decades after a canceled high-school trip kept him from visiting the nation’s capital, Vietnam veteran and LaGrange County REMC member Tony Holsinger finally made the journey to Washington, D.C. — this time as part of an Honor Flight recognizing his service to his country.

Holsinger, who served in the U.S. Army from 1969 to 1971, spent 14 months in Vietnam. His Honor Flight on Nov. 5 was a day filled with emotion, reflection, and long-overdue gratitude.

Back in 1967, as a senior at Prairie Heights High School, Holsinger’s class had planned a trip to Washington, D.C., but it was canceled — leaving him without the chance to see the memorials that tell the story of America’s struggles and triumphs. Now, nearly 60 years later, he finally walked among those monuments, joined by dozens of fellow veterans and his son-in-law, Scott Brill, who shared the journey with him.

Holsinger reflected that while many friends served with him, one dear comrade did not make it home. His memory, Holsinger said, made the visit even more meaningful.

The day’s itinerary took the group to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, the World War II Memorial, and the Korean War Veterans Memorial, among others. Holsinger was especially moved by the Korean Memorial, with its haunting statues of soldiers trudging through imagined terrain, and by the solemn Changing of the Guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier — a ceremony he described as both humbling and deeply inspiring.

At the Franklin D. Roosevelt Memorial, Holsinger received a heartfelt letter from an eighth-grade student. The words of appreciation from a young person touched him deeply, a reminder that the sacrifices of his generation continue to be honored by the next.

Holsinger had been waiting four years for his turn to take this Honor Flight, and he said it was well worth the wait. “It’s something I’ll never forget,” he shared. “To finally make this trip, to see these places, and to feel that appreciation — it means more than I can say.”

On the return flight, veterans are presented with handwritten notes, pictures and letters of appreciation for the sacrifices made. The day concluded with a powerful homecoming celebration at Fort Wayne International Airport, where hundreds of people waved flags, cheered, and thanked the returning veterans. For Holsinger, the warm reception stood in stark contrast to the quiet, unacknowledged return he experienced after Vietnam more than 50 years ago.

“Back then, I had some family members greet me. This time, my family plus hundreds of others were here. Honor Flight does it right,” Holsinger said.

The Honor Flight program provides free trips for veterans to visit the memorials built in their honor in Washington, D.C. For Holsinger, it was not just a journey — it was the closing of a long chapter, filled with remembrance, friendship, and gratitude.

LaGrange County REMC, along with neighboring co-ops, presents each Honor Flight participant with a photo book, commemorating the day they toured Washington, D.C. All photos from Flight #54 and previous flights can be viewed at hfnei.org.