Honor Flight: Veterans to visit Washington war memorials

Every October, World War II veterans from Southern New Mexico get a chance to visits the monuments dedicated to them in Washington, D.C., as part of the local Honor Flight Network.

In recent years, the flight has been expanded to include veterans from the Korean War and Vietnam War, and for the the first time this year, veterans from El Paso were also invited.

“I’m very happy and excited because we’re going to go to Washington, D.C. to see that memorial,” said Ralph Silva, a WWII veteran who is visiting Washington for the firs time. “I’m excited ’cause I’m going with all my buddies from World War II.”

Business and community leaders established the Honor Flight of Southern New Mexico in 2008 as a way of honoring vets and getting them to Washington D.C. to visit the memorials that “their bravery inspired.”

Joe S. Benitez, a veteran of the Korean War, was also surprised to be going, but said he was glad to see what’s being done for him and his fellow veterans. He said he was most excited about seeing the Korean War Veterans Memorial and Vietnam Veterans Memorial.

“A lot of my friends, that we went together, a lot of them didn’t make it,” said Benitez, who is originally from Alamogordo. “I’ll be looking for their names.”

To learn more about the Honor Flight of Southern New Mexico or to donate, click here.