In our nation’s capital, there are special monuments that honor the men and women who served in America’s wars. People visit the tall Iwo Jima Memorial, the quiet Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, the World War II Memorial with its big circle of pillars, the Korean War Veterans Memorial, and the Vietnam Veterans Memorial covered in thousands of names.

The Honor Flight program brings older veterans to Washington, D.C. so they can see these places for themselves. More than 300,000 veterans have made the trip, each one getting the chance to have their bravery and sacrifice remembered.

This story is told by an unnamed veteran. Through his eyes, readers feel the powerful emotions of the visit—from seeing the monuments up close to receiving heartfelt messages from friends and schoolchildren. The journey ends with a warm “welcome home,” something some veterans never got when they first returned from war.