An airplane departs Tyler Pounds Regional Airport carrying on Thursday Nov. 8, 2018.

World War II and Korean War veterans from Texas, Louisiana and Arkansas packed their bags and headed to Tyler Pounds Regional Airport for an all-expenses-paid trip to Washington, D.C.

The seven men sat together Thursday morning with family, friends and other community members for a send-off ceremony prior to boarding a plane bound for Lafayette, Louisiana, where 16 more veterans were scheduled to join them on their journey to the nation’s capital. In total, 19 World War II veterans and four Korean War veterans were on the trip.

World War II veteran Victor “Pop” Dake, 95, of Mineola, is one of the veterans on the 17th Brookshire Grocery Co. Heroes Flight. His son, Jim Wallis, a Vietnam veteran and also of Mineola, will be his dad’s escort.

“Pop, I didn’t know you were such a stud when you were serving,” Wallis said when the two were getting ready to go through airport security. “He’ll be 96 in two weeks. I’m looking forward to spending three days with him doing this.”

Dake said he was really excited and nodded his head and smiled at all the attention the group was getting from fellow veterans and the media as they prepared to go through the airport security checkpoint.  

The send-off ceremony began with the posting of the colors by the Sons of the American Revolution, the singing of the national anthem and a prayer for a safe and enjoyable journey by Pastor Gerry Giles of Marvin United Methodist Church. 

The seven veterans were introduced and presented a folded flag and a certificate to commemorate the event. 

James Abbott, of Temple, a WWII veteran, and his younger brother, Korean War veteran H.O. Abbott, of Tyler, visited and took photos with family members before they headed down the corridor to the gate.  

“I’m going with my hero,” the younger H.O. Abbott said proudly as he reached over and patted his older brother on the back. 

The group will tour the U.S. Capitol with U.S. Rep. Louie Gohmert. They also will visit the WWII Memorial, Arlington National Cemetery, the National Air and Space Museum and memorials honoring the U.S. Marines, Navy, Air Force, Abraham Lincoln, Franklin D. Roosevelt, Martin Luther King Jr. and Vietnam and Korean War veterans.

“It’s our honor and privilege to do this,” Brookshire Grocery Co. Chairman and CEO Brad Brookshire said. 

Brookshire said the jet was provided by American Airlines and invited the public to come back for the group’s return flight, which is scheduled to be at the airport about 6:10 p.m. Saturday. 

The jet received a water cannon salute from the Tyler Fire Department as it departed the terminal. 

Brookshire’s has taken about 462 veterans from Texas, Louisiana and Arkansas to Washington since establishing the Heroes Flight program in 2010. 

Veterans on the flight are: 

James Abbott, of Temple

H.O. Abbott Jr., of Tyler 

Arnold Addison, of Ragley, Louisiana

Billy Barrett, of Lafayette, Louisiana 

Otis “Doc” Bell, of Ashdown, Arkansas

Stanley Beverly, of Franklin, Louisiana

Eboo Bienvenu, of St. Martinville, Louisiana 

Jim Bollich, of Lafayette, Louisiana

Shirby Breaux, of Breaux Bridge, Louisiana

Hartwell Champagne, of Abbeville, Louisiana 

Ed Croan, of Tyler 

Victor “Pop” Dake, of Mineola 

David Fisher, of Lafayette, Louisiana

Byron Fogleman, of Lafayette, Louisiana

Kaye Gabel, of Tyler

Truett Huffstutler, of Holly Lake Ranch

Gay Keller, of Lafayette, Louisiana

Remi Kidder, of Arnaudville, Louisiana

Al Khoury, of Sulphur, Louisiana

Harlis Meylian, of Simpson, Louisiana 

Earl Weber, of Lafayette, Louisiana 

Odis Wilder, of Lafayette, Louisiana

Bobby Williams, of Florien, Louisiana