World War II veterans and their personal guardians, board the first Honor Flight Northwest Ohio flight of the 2012 season, at Toledo Express Airport. The flight carried 74 World War II veterans to Washington D.C. where they were to visit the World War II memorial as well as the Korean War memorial, the Vietnam War memorial, the Air Force memorial, the Iwo Jima Marine Corps memorial, Arlington National Cemetery, and the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.
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U.S. Navy veteran Alexander Cukierski, 87, of Perryburg, right, accompanied by his son Terrence, exchanges salutes with Jerry Newman of VFW Post 606 in Toledo, left.
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U.S. Navy veteran Ginny Spanfellner, 88, of Gibsonburg, accompanied by Donna Shessler of Genoa.
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Jeff Stephenson, fixed base operations manger for Grande Air, loads wheelchairs onto a luggage conveyor.
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World War II veterans and their personal guardians line up to board.
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World War II U.S. Army veteran James Bierly of Lucas, Ohio, boards.
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World War II U.S. Army veteran Bob Sheehan of Sylvania gets an assist from volunteer Jim Tichy as he boards the flight.
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Jon Williams of Swanton, Northwest Ohio Regional Captain of the Patriot Guard Riders, left, watches as World War II veterans and their personal guardians board.
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Jerry Newman of VFW Post 606 in Toledo, left, shakes hands with U.S. Coast Guard veteran Norma Nelson, 87, of Perrysburg, accompanied by Beverly Monahan of Lambertville, Mich., as she boards the plane. Norma worked as a cook in the Coast Guard.
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Honor Flight Northwest Ohio gets a water salute from the Toledo Express fire department as it departs Toledo Express Airport.
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The first Honor Flight Northwest Ohio flight of the 2012 season takes off from Toledo Express Airport.
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Lenora Brown, of Whitehouse, left, waves good-bye to her husband Clifford Brown, 86, as he and 73 other World War II veterans and their personal guardians leave Toledo Express Airport. Mr. Brown served in the U.S. Army. Also waving is Jeanette Studer of Whitehouse, second from left. Her husband Gary was a veteran of the U.S. Army and U.S Air Force, and was the retired fire chief of the 180th Air National Guard. He also had been with the Whitehouse Fire Department for 30 years. He died of a stroke in 2008. Jeanette has paid for 20 veterans and 9 escorts to go on the Honor Flights.
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