Honor Flight Kern County will once again escort local veterans to Washington, D.C. as Flight No. 53 departs from Meadows Field Airport early Monday morning. The three-day trip, provided at no cost to the veterans, is scheduled to return to Bakersfield on Wednesday evening.

This flight includes one Korean War veteran, approximately 16 Cold War veterans, and nearly 90 Vietnam veterans. Among those making the journey are U.S. Army veteran Kay Bohanan and U.S. Air Force veteran Karen Campbell, longtime friends who will share the experience together.

For Bohanan, the trip is deeply personal. As a former Army medic during the Vietnam era, she plans to visit the Vietnam Veterans Memorial and locate the names of more than 30 individuals she remembers from her time caring for wounded service members. It is an opportunity to pay her respects and honor those who never made it home.

Campbell, a retired Air Force master sergeant, also looks forward to the visit. Her service included assignments across the United States and overseas, including during the Gulf War. Traveling alongside her son, who will serve as her guardian, she hopes the experience will bring reflection and a renewed appreciation for the meaning of military service.

Honor Flight Kern County conducts these missions twice each year, ensuring veterans have the opportunity to visit the memorials built in their honor. The program is made possible by dedicated volunteers who take seriously the responsibility of caring for those who served.

Leading this flight is Jim Scroggins, a longtime volunteer who has supported 18 previous Honor Flights as a guardian and bus leader. This will be his first time serving as tour leader, a role he steps into with experience and a clear understanding of the mission.

At its core, Honor Flight is about respect. It is about recognizing those who answered the call, many at great personal cost. For the veterans on Flight No. 53, the journey offers time to reflect, to remember, and to stand among others who share that same bond of service.

For additional details, read the original coverage at Bakersfield.com.