More than 140 North Texas veterans, family members, and volunteers traveled to Washington this week to tour Congress and the memorials that commemorate their service and sacrifice. U.S. Congressman Mac Thornberry (R-Clarendon) hosted the group today for a special tour of the Capitol where he had the opportunity to speak to them on the Floor of the House.

"Sally, the staff, and I are privileged to welcome the Honor Flight to the U.S. Capitol again this year. Each veteran has a special story to tell, and we enjoy hearing all of them," said Thornberry. "It is a wonderful reminder of the unique contribution our part of Texas had made — and continues to make — to defending our freedom and keeping our country safe."

Texas Panhandle Honor Flight is a non-profit organization headquartered in Amarillo. The Honor Flights are part of the organization’s efforts to promote awareness and support for our U.S. military service members and veterans, as well as their families. The group also organizes care boxes for active duty personnel, sponsors an annual Armed Forces Day banquet, and organizes welcome home and return to duty rallies.

"Thank you to Texas Panhandle Honor Flight, which organizes these trips, all the family members, and the volunteers that make it happen. And thank you to all of our veterans past and present who have served our nation," Thornberry said.

Honor Flight is a national program that began a decade ago as a project to offer World War II veterans all-expenses-paid overnight trips to Washington, D.C., to see the National World War II Memorial. Today, these flights honor America’s veterans by paying for and transporting groups of veterans from all over the country to see the memorials designed and erected to honor their service. 

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