Veterans Arrive via "Freedom Bird" after Emotional Visit to Memorial in Washington, D.C.
When: Wednesday, Nov. 12, 2008; scheduled arrival time at 4:50 p.m.
Where: Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport, Terminal 4Southwest Airlines Flight #2781, arriving at Gate D
Family will be waiting outside the security area with flags, balloons and signs
PHOENIX - About 45 Vietnam veterans will return from their trip to the Vietnam War Memorial - The Wall - aboard a Southwest Airlines flight dubbed the "Freedom Bird," to a surprise welcome by family and friends after an emotional and healing trip.
"This is the welcome home they should have received 40 years ago," says Pat Tuli, a social worker with the Phoenix Veteran Affairs (VA) Health Care System, who worked with the Phoenix Veterans Center, Southwest Airlines and veterans' families to hold a welcome home celebration at the airport. "This is a population that never had recognition and it is in their honor that we work so hard to recognize and care for our new combat vets. "
Tuli says the trip is "life changing," adding that the surprise welcome home is "frosting on the cake. This is a healing trip, where they go as a unit and everyone comes home."
Veterans making the trip are accompanied by counselors from the Phoenix Vet Center, who have been providing therapy for them. VA Vet Centers provide readjustment counseling and outreach services to all veterans who served in any combat zone.
Family members of the veterans will wear specially designed t-shirts that display the Vietnam ribbon colors and say "Welcome Home Freedom Bird". There also will be flags and signs made for each returning veteran.
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