U.S Congressman Mac Thornberry (R-Clarendon), the Vice Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, today welcomed veterans with the Texas Panhandle Honor Flight to the U.S. Capitol.  Thornberry led the guests on a tour of House floor, as well as the Capitol Rotunda and Statuary Hall.

“We are able to stand on the floor on the U.S. House and do the people’s business because men and women like these veterans fought to defend our freedom to do so,” said Thornberry.  “There will never be a way to truly repay them for their service the our country, but we can certainly honor and celebrate them whenever and wherever we can,” he continued.

This group includes veterans who served  in World War II and Korea.  They are visiting Washington, D.C., through the Honor Flight Network (HFN), which brings veterans to the nation’s capital to visit memorials that honor their service to our country.  Among the group is the Short brothers—Cecil, James, Johnny, Wendell, and Dexter—who all served in the military.  They are the largest group of brothers to fly to Washington on an Honor Flight. 

The idea for an Honor Flight program can be traced to Earl Morse, a physician assistant and Retired Air Force Captain who wanted to honor the veterans he had taken care of during his career.  In 2005, the program’s first year, HFN safely transported 137 veterans to see their memorials, at no cost to the veterans. In 2010, HFN safely transported 22,149 veterans.

The Texas Panhandle Honor Flight plans on bringing another group of veterans to Washington from October 5-7, 2011.

Visit Facebook to view more photos from the Honor Flight: http://www.facebook.com/#!/repmacthornberry