RSSLive Blog

Live coverage: Big Sky Honor Flight

World War II veterans and volunteers are participating in the third Big Sky Honor Flight to Washington, D.C.

3rd & 7 37yd

Lt. Gov. John Walsh is honorary chairman of Big Sky Honor Flight. http://pbs.twimg.com/media/BIYMK5QCUAEBEpo.jpg

by Cindy Uken via twitter 4/21/2013 3:39:11 PM
Kenneth Baeth and his son Roger are aboard Big Sky Honor Flight No. 3. http://pbs.twimg.com/media/BIYMiIaCIAEvStl.jpg

by Cindy Uken via twitter 4/21/2013 3:39:19 PM
Mayor Tom Hanel greeted all the WWII veterans aboard Big Sky Honor Flight No. 3. http://pbs.twimg.com/media/BIYNuVQCYAA_R-o.jpg

by Cindy Uken via twitter 4/21/2013 3:39:22 PM
Medical personnel from the VA are on board Big Sky Honor Flight.

by Cindy Uken via twitter 4/21/2013 3:39:23 PM
Big Sky Honor Flight 8601, scheduled to depart at 7:30 a.m. Has been delayed. Reason not immediately known.

by Cindy Uken via twitter 4/21/2013 3:39:26 PM
Veterans each given a backpack filled with snacks, water and biographies of veterans on board. Each received a box of Girl Scout cookies

by Cindy Uken via twitter 4/21/2013 3:39:32 PM
Cheers erupt as veterans told the doors to the plane have been shut and the plane is ready to depart.

by Cindy Uken via twitter 4/21/2013 3:39:35 PM
Final veteran count on board: 86. One had to bow out at the last minute.

by Cindy Uken via twitter 4/21/2013 3:39:37 PM
Cold weather -- 31 degrees-- will prohibit a water cannon send-off this morning. Plane is being de-iced.

by Cindy Uken via twitter 4/21/2013 3:39:43 PM
Wheels up on Sun Country Flight 8601. Cheers erupt!

by Cindy Uken via twitter 4/21/2013 3:39:46 PM
Continue to follow this blog for live updates.

by Billings Gazette 4/21/2013 3:41:14 PM
http://pbs.twimg.com/media/BIZSbh9CQAIT05j.jpg

by Cindy Uken via twitter 4/21/2013 6:24:08 PM
Agatha Twist of Billings gets a hug from Lt. Gov. John Walsh. http://pbs.twimg.com/media/BIZSgQXCMAEC1qg.jpg

by Cindy Uken via twitter 4/21/2013 6:24:28 PM
Welcome! http://pbs.twimg.com/media/BIZS8gSCEAEcNGB.jpg

by Cindy Uken via twitter 4/21/2013 6:26:24 PM
Greeted baby a brass band. http://pbs.twimg.com/media/BIZTPauCQAAoynj.jpg

by Cindy Uken via twitter 4/21/2013 6:27:41 PM
A Montana welcome. http://pbs.twimg.com/media/BIZT8ghCMAARIwn.jpg

by Cindy Uken via twitter 4/21/2013 6:30:46 PM
That's what you get while trying to walk and Tweet at the same time. That should have said greeted BY brass band.

by Cindy Uken via twitter 4/21/2013 6:32:31 PM
Sharing the love as veterans board buses bound for the monuments. http://pbs.twimg.com/media/BIZWJffCIAA1Svj.jpg

by Cindy Uken via twitter 4/21/2013 6:40:23 PM
Goodbye veterans. http://pbs.twimg.com/media/BIZWRqrCAAAzHZ7.jpg

by Cindy Uken via twitter 4/21/2013 6:40:57 PM
American Legion Riders from Virginia join the throngs of people welcoming the veterans. http://pbs.twimg.com/media/BIZX51oCcAEzgsc.jpg

by Cindy Uken via twitter 4/21/2013 6:48:03 PM
Reps from all the congressional offices are on hand to greet the veterans. Veterans say they are overwhelmed by the welcome.

by Cindy Uken via twitter 4/21/2013 6:51:32 PM
Patriot Guard from Virginia is escorting buses to the monuments.

by Cindy Uken via twitter 4/21/2013 7:02:59 PM
An empty chair and table commemorates the Missing Man. http://pbs.twimg.com/media/BIabxQzCcAAfOoV.jpg

by Cindy Uken via twitter 4/21/2013 11:44:34 PM
Bill Kennedy taking roll and giving veterans instructions for the day. http://pbs.twimg.com/media/BIdItoaCQAEv4RH.jpg

by Cindy Uken via twitter 4/22/2013 12:20:10 PM
Buses have entered Arlington. "That's a lot of people," said Bob Frankforter. http://pbs.twimg.com/media/BIdvd5oCYAEk46T.jpg

by Cindy Uken via twitter 4/22/2013 3:09:29 PM
Spring blossoms at Arlington. http://pbs.twimg.com/media/BIdwr_LCEAI4GUI.jpg

by Cindy Uken via twitter 4/22/2013 3:14:49 PM
Veterans emotional at seeing row upon row of their fallen comrades. http://pbs.twimg.com/media/BIdxB0nCYAIpuAF.jpg

by Cindy Uken via twitter 4/22/2013 3:16:19 PM
Veterans' D.C. Transportation. http://pbs.twimg.com/media/BIdxRloCEAAQqfB.jpg

by Cindy Uken via twitter 4/22/2013 3:17:23 PM
Veterans' escort into the cemetery. http://pbs.twimg.com/media/BIdxcyOCcAAcGjn.jpg

by Cindy Uken via twitter 4/22/2013 3:18:09 PM
Robin Hanel escorts one of veterans to the Iwo Jima Memorial. http://pbs.twimg.com/media/BIeOHTlCAAAsav0.jpg

by Cindy Uken via twitter 4/22/2013 5:23:23 PM
Robin Hanel helps keep Jim Vick of Billings warm in the cool 43 degree temperatures. http://pbs.twimg.com/media/BIeO4JtCMAA9lBT.jpg

by Cindy Uken via twitter 4/22/2013 5:26:43 PM
Bill Kennedy gives Pete Mangen of Miles City a stroll around Iwo Jima. http://pbs.twimg.com/media/BIePOs4CUAIaOt5.jpg

by Cindy Uken via twitter 4/22/2013 5:28:16 PM
Robert Willems of Harlowtown thanks the U.S. Park Police for "the special treatment." http://pbs.twimg.com/media/BIePyTCCMAA7oU_.jpg

by Cindy Uken via twitter 4/22/2013 5:30:41 PM
Veterans catch a glimpse of the Jefferson Memorial from the bus window. http://pbs.twimg.com/media/BIeY1IDCIAEbH61.jpg

by Cindy Uken via twitter 4/22/2013 6:10:12 PM
Buses have arrived at FDR Memorial.

by Cindy Uken via twitter 4/22/2013 6:12:25 PM
Montana veterans feel right at home seeing Park Police cleaning the horse trailer. http://pbs.twimg.com/media/BIeaBUnCYAAXf21.jpg

by Cindy Uken via twitter 4/22/2013 6:15:24 PM
A different mode of transportation for U.S. Park Police. http://pbs.twimg.com/media/BIeaggoCQAEH4am.jpg

by Cindy Uken via twitter 4/22/2013 6:17:32 PM
Dr. Larry Severa of Billings Clinic takes Steve Mills of Hamilton for a tour of the FDR Memorial. http://pbs.twimg.com/media/BIebIcNCUAANvZg.jpg

by Cindy Uken via twitter 4/22/2013 6:20:15 PM
Joseph Hartman at the FDR waterfall, saying, "I've never seen anything like it." http://pbs.twimg.com/media/BIecJatCIAAwe4P.jpg

by Cindy Uken via twitter 4/22/2013 6:24:42 PM
Some veterans on their cell phones to family talking about how "important" they feel with police escort. They have been treated like royalty

by Cindy Uken via twitter 4/22/2013 8:07:52 PM
Oh, so weary. http://pbs.twimg.com/media/BIe1jZ2CQAMbsRv.jpg

by Cindy Uken via twitter 4/22/2013 8:15:42 PM
Buses have arrived at Dulles and are unloading wheelchairs, oxygen, luggage and passengers. Patience is the operative word here.

by Cindy Uken via twitter 4/22/2013 8:25:54 PM
Homeward bound. http://pbs.twimg.com/media/BIe5gxlCEAQTfd4.jpg

by Cindy Uken via twitter 4/22/2013 8:33:00 PM
Do you know this weary traveler? http://pbs.twimg.com/media/BIgLFigCYAA2uB-.jpg

by Cindy Uken via twitter 4/23/2013 2:29:24 AM
Wheels down.

by Cindy Uken via twitter 4/23/2013 2:30:11 AM
Calisthenics. http://pbs.twimg.com/media/BIgLc8jCEAQoRIK.jpg

by Cindy Uken via twitter 4/23/2013 2:30:59 AM
Give me 10, please. http://pbs.twimg.com/media/BIgLlRGCYAAbv06.jpg

by Cindy Uken via twitter 4/23/2013 2:31:34 AM
Seeking autographs. http://pbs.twimg.com/media/BIgLrzoCEAElscA.jpg

by Cindy Uken via twitter 4/23/2013 2:32:01 AM