500 welcome Honor Flight participants to Arlington Heights

Cheers and applause greeted 45 veterans who returned to Arlington Heights Saturday after a three-day trip to Washington, D.C., courtesy of the Veterans Network Committee of northern and western Illinois.

Throngs of well-wishers carrying American flags and colorful "welcome home" signs crowded the grounds of Christian Liberty Academy to honor veterans of World War II, Korea and Vietnam who participated in the annual Honor Flight.

Many shouted "thank you" as the honorees - who ranged in age from 60s to 90s - exited buses escorted by more than 50 members of the Warriors Watch Riders, a group of motorcycle enthusiasts who participate in events honoring servicemen and women.

"Yea, grandpa," shouted Brandy McClintock, 31, of Elk Grove Village to her 82-year-old grandfather Stan Pytel, also of Elk Grove.

Some Honor Flight participants walked on their own. Others used canes or wheelchairs as they made their way past a veterans honor guard holding flags representing the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines and Coast Guard, past a contingent of young, uniformed sailors and soldiers standing in salute and into the school's gymnasium.

"I have the honor to officially welcome home these great American men and women," said Arlington Heights Mayor Thomas Hayes, a retired lieutenant colonel in the U.S. Army.

"Welcome home," he said to cheers from more than 500 attendees.

"I'm blown away by the support for these men and women," said Hayes, who praised the veterans' families for their support.

"They could not do what they do for us without the support of those back home," he said.

McClintock says her grandfather, a Korean War veteran, is proud to have served his country.

Being at the celebration "means the world to us to know my grandfather is a hero ... He put his life on the line for us, his grandchildren and great grandchildren," she said.

Dick Ohman, a retired marine from Des Plaines who served in Korea, took the Honor Flight last year.

"It was terrific," said Ohman, 84, who was 15½ when he enlisted.

"It's nice to be recognized," he said, "but the most important thing is you served your country."

Fellow marine Phil Wicklein of Arlington Heights has attended several Honor Flight welcome home events.

"I feel I owe them my respect," said Wicklein, 78, who described his two-year tour as "a paid vacation" and says he wants other vets to to take the trip before him.

"I'll go after all the Vietnam, Desert Storm, Iraq and Afghanistan veterans are taken care of," he said.

Melody Brocato, 65, of Cherry Valley, a town near Rockford, was one of four female veterans on the flight.

"We got to tour all the memorials. We were so blessed to see everything," said Brocato, who served in the U.S. Marine Corps during the Vietnam era.

When Korean War veteran George Swenson's name was called, his family stood and cheered.

The former Marine is a longtime American Legion member who assists returning veterans, according to his son, Steve Swenson of Gurnee.

This was an emotional experience for his father, Swenson said.

"It was a very rich experience ... a once in a lifetime event," he said. "To be part of this is a great honor for my family."