Art and Karl Stine on the Veteran Honor Flight

By Travis Volz

For Art Stine, an Honor Flight trip to Washington, D.C. was a reward for his two decades of service in the United States Marine Corps.

Stine went on whirlwind trip Tuesday, October 4 visit memorials to the armed services.

“It was like a payday for me,” Stine said. “It was an amazing trip.”

While the whole trip was memorable for Stine, one thing that stuck with the Vietnam veteran was at the airport when the Honor Flight returned.

“The reception was considerably different from when I returned home from Vietnam in 1970,” he said. “It was good not to have to dodge tomatoes.”

When his Honor Flight landed at Marion Airport, Stine said the streets were lined with people welcoming home the 90 veterans from the area who made the trip.

“I can’t say enough what that meant to me, seeing people waving flags and cheering,” he said. “I even had a Boy Scout and a Girl Scout escort me as I walked.”

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