84 Kentucky veterans take Honor Flight Bluegrass trip to Washington, D.C.
Dozens of local veterans spent Tuesday in the nation's Capitol as part of Honor Flight Bluegrass.
This free trip allows veterans to visit monuments dedicated to their service. There were 84 who made the trip on Tuesday.
After serving in the Air Force during the Vietnam War, James Stikes says he feels blessed to have lived a long life.
"Everybody here that's been in the war, they know what it feels like to be home," Stikes said.
Stikes was accompanied by his granddaughter on the Honor Flight Bluegrass. They joined 83 other veterans for the day-long trip to Washington, D.C.
From the Korean War to World War II and the Vietnam War, veterans on Tuesday's flight were together on a journey to see the monuments created in their honor.
"That's going to be a fun thing because I've been to Washington, D.C., but I've never really stopped to look at the monuments, but it was like driving through and looking around, but never stopping to get there," Stikes said.
Jeff Thoke is the chairman of Honor Flight Bluegrass.
"We get the chance to honor veterans that do so much for all of us," Thoke said.
Honor Flight Bluegrass is a nonprofit that operates off donations. But this year, Thoke says they received a massive anonymous donation for $125,000, which covered this trip and others.
"We're just shocked and pleased because it allows us to have other flights in the future because it's taken care of basically," Thoke said.
And while this trip will be one filled with many emotions for Stikes, he says it will also be an educational experience for his granddaughter, as they pay their respects to those who never made it home.
"It's good for her to see how things were and what happened during the war," Stikes said.