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SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (Dakota News Now) - The Midwest Honor Flight hosted its 5th annual reunion which brought in veterans from their now twenty flights to reconnect and revisit memories made on their unforgettable day in Washington D.C.

Sioux Falls Arena was filled with patriotism and familiar faces. The Kooi brothers reconnected with veterans who were on their flights and enjoyed conversations about their experiences. Art and Roger Kooi both served in Vietnam and they flew on Honor Flights one and six, respectively. Art was in the infantryman in country and he’s proud of his service. Roger helped bring cargo and supplies to soldiers on the frontlines in Vietnam. During their time in the military, Roger played a role in getting the paperwork started for his brother so that Art could get back home earlier, which both are thankful for. Both brothers speak highly of the Midwest Honor Flight and were glad to encourage their fellow veterans to go on a flight.

Not only did the reunion give them a chance to catch up with those they met on their trips to our nation’s capitol, but most importantly, it gave them a chance to speak with those who also served their country and faced similar challenges.

“It was just a joy coming here, conversing with comrades and just getting together with people that know what the hell we went through,” explained Art Kooi.

“You are part of the family of the veterans and it is an honor for you to go if you can,” Roger Kooi said. “We love to see more people go.”

Even if a veteran didn’t see anyone from their Honor Flight, they shared unity through shared experiences. William Kelly, who goes by Bill, also served in Vietnam. He said that the event means a lot to him and when meeting someone new at the reunion, they connect quickly.

“It just makes you feel at home and the people that surround you are so comforting,” said Kelly. “You feel like they’re your brothers and sisters.”

Veterans said that the work that the Midwest Honor Flight does is not just to honor the living veterans, but to remember and honor their fallen comrades.

“We have to do this to honor them, too, just as well as we get honored here,” Art Kooi said.

For the ones who put on the Honor Flights, the veterans become a special part of their lives. Elaine Leusink is an American Gold Star Mother who lost her son in Iraq in 2006. Now, she serves with the Midwest Honor Flight on their Board of Directors and for each flight she is the Welcome Home Director. She said that spending time with veterans on the Honor Flight provides closure and each veteran has a part of her heart.

“They know that they’re part of each other’s family and we kind of remind them of that at every welcome home that once they take that final salute and they get that final discharge, it’s not over,” Leusink said. “They’re now a member of our family.”

The Midwest Honor Flight is looking to grow their family. They have three more flights scheduled for this upcoming Fall and they have around 700 veterans currently on their waitlist.

“We are extremely blessed in our hub because our sponsorships continue to come in which allows us to do a year like this year where there are six flights,” described Leusink. “Other hubs don’t have that opportunity, so we just keep getting the word out there. Our veterans are our best advertisement. Our sponsors are wonderful and they’re as passionate about what we do as we are. As long as we can keep bringing them in, we’ll continue because they all deserve that honor that just wasn’t always there for them. We want them to all to be respected in the way that they should be.”