Veterans from the Honor Flight of ND/MN at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington D.C., September 21, 2026 (KFGO News Photo / Nate Coen)
WASHINGTON (KFGO) – 240 Veterans from the Korean and Vietnam war eras returned to Fargo from Washington D.C. Tuesday evening on the latest Veterans Honor Flight of North Dakota and Minnesota. Split into two planes, the Veterans received a return ceremony from area residents and family members, welcoming them home.
The Honor Flight takes veterans on a three day trip to monuments and memorials across the nation’s capitol. For many the trip is a chance to spend time with those who have similar experience and heal as a group.
“Several of the memorials were very moving, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial was very moving for me. I served during ‘67 to ‘71 and the entire flight has been a real good bonding opportunity for all of the vets on the bus and with the whole group. Just a wonderful time.” Said Ken Shaffer, a United States Air Force veteran.
Shaffer says all eligible veterans should sign up for future trips, even if they feel like it’s not for them.
“Once you’ve been on it, you realize the purpose is to show some honor and respect for those who, especially in the Vietnam era, who came back and they didn’t get any respect coming into the airports I can tell you that.” Shaffer said, “I would encourage ‘hey, get signed up’.”
Vietnam era Veterans overlook a map of Vietnam at the U.S. Army Museum, September 20, 2026 (KFGO News Photo / Nate Coen)
After his discharge, Shaffer attended bible college in Missouri, where he majored in music. He later recorded a pair of professional albums. Shaffer put his music skills to use on the trip, leading the Bravo plane in God Bless America on the way to Washington and later singing the Star Spangled Banner for the entire group banquet Sunday night.
“I was actually shocked at first. Singing on the plane was the easy thing, but when they said, you know, ‘let’s sing the national anthem’, I remembered this guy at a national event and he forgot the words, so I just said ‘I need the words!’” Shaffer said.
For others like Jack Donahue, a U.S. Army veteran, also from the Vietnam era, the Honor Flight provides an opportunity he would not otherwise have.
“This is a great trip. This has just been unbelievable how nice it has been. (The) Volunteers are tremendous, I could never walk around here with my leg problem, but Stacy’s been pushing me along on my wheelchair, up these big hills and everything and it has been great.” Donahue said.
Veterans with the Honor Flight of ND/MN at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Washington D.C., September 21, 2026 (KFGO News Photo / Nate Coen)
Donahue worked as a radio intelligence analyst and spent time in Okinawa, Japan and Fort Hood, Texas.
“You know, I’ve been out 50 years and I’m still kind of afraid to say what we actually did,” Donahue said. “We had top secret clearances and we had to, you know, not talk about things when we got out.”
He also echoed that all eligible veterans should sign up to go on an Honor Flight, and said he was grateful he was selected for this flight.
“Fortunately they put me on the top of the list and I’m so thankful that they picked me to go. I mean it’s just, it’s a wonderful experience,” Donahue said.
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