History was made Sept. 22 when the first-ever all-female Honor Flight touched down on the tarmac at Ronald Reagan National Airport.
The 75 female veterans on the flight represented all branches of the American armed forces and came from the greater Cincinnati, Ohio, area. They ranged in age from 28 to 96.
"The ladies, when they come up the jetway have no idea what's waiting for them," said Greg Locher, Honor Flight coordinator for American Airlines.
The Honor Flight Network is a nonprofit organization that flies veterans to Washington, D.C., to see the memorials that are built in their honor.
Retired Air Force Brig. Gen. Wilma Vaught, president of the board of directors of the Women in Military Service for America, was on hand to welcome the group to the National Capital Region.
"They are seeing all the major memorials, and I'm sure for many of these women, they may not have been to Washington before," she said. "One of their primary things is to see their memorial, and we're so pleased to have them here."
Kindergarten students from Janis Linden's class at Francis Scott Key School in Washington, D.C. handed American flags to the women as they passed through the terminal. Linden's father, Eli, was captured in France and spent six months as a German prisoner of war during World War II, she said.
"I hope they take away from this how important freedom is," she said.
Veteran Collen Mallory was overcome with tears as she made her way down a receiving line of cheering well-wishers and received thanks for her service.
"It's so nice to see so many smiling faces," she said as she briefly paused to wipe her eyes.
When asked what she expected when the group landed at the airport, Army veteran Jackie Richardson shook her head while smiling broadly.
"Not this," she said. "This is …unbelievable."
Veteran Loma Angelo fondly recalled her time in the service.
"I can't tell you how wonderful it was serving in the Marines," she said.
The veterans were accompanied on their trip by 75 female active duty service members, as well as Navy Lt. Cmdr. Lauren Warren and Army Master Sgt. Annette Reed.
"They paved the way for us," said Warren.
"This is fantastic to interact with the ladies who came before us and paved the way for us," added Reed. "If they hadn't done what they did, we would not have the opportunity to serve."
During their visit, the veterans visited memorials and monuments throughout Washington D.C., as well as Arlington National Cemetery, including the Women in Military Service for America Memorial in Arlington, Va., where they heard Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary Robert A. McDonald and other notable guests speak.
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