Veterans and 'guardians' prepare for Honor Flight journey to Washington, D.C.

Jayhawk-Linn adds second veteran-guardian team, Prairie View to send five veterans and five guardians

Veterans and student "guardians" from seven area high schools gather at Lyndon High School on Sunday, May 31, to prepare for the whirlwind two-day tour of Washington, D.C., as part of the Honor Flight program. Both Prairie View and Jayhawk-Linn high schools will be sending veteran-guardian teams on the journey. (Honor Flight 2026 Facebook)

By Kathleen Hinrichs

2026 Honor Flight Media Representative

LYNDON – The journey is getting very real for 46 veterans, their guardians and volunteers as they prepare to depart early Wednesday morning for the 2026 Honor Flight trip to Washington, D.C.

Veterans, guardians and volunteers from Central Heights, Lyndon, Osawatomie, Prairie View, Flinthills, Northern Heights and Jayhawk-Linn gathered Sunday evening at Lyndon High School for a meet and greet dinner ahead of this week's trip.

The group from Prairie View on the Honor Flight includes guardians, front row from left, Brilee Shrum, Miranda Covell, Abigail Alvarez, and Cecilia Brockway; and veterans, back row, Peter Nolte, Gene Weirich, Albert Bigler, Roger Guernsey, and Glenn Conner. Guardian Kimball Uphoff was unable to attend Sunday's event but will be on the flight. (Photo by Corissa Uphoff)

Organizers welcomed participants during the evening, reviewed important information ahead of departure and provided training for guardians before the veterans arrived. But beyond the schedules and travel details, the evening was really about relationships.

There was plenty of conversation, a few stories shared around the dinner table and a lot of excitement for what lies ahead. For some participants, those connections are already well established through family ties and friendships.

Grandfathers and grandsons, uncles and nephews and longtime friends will be making the journey together. For many others, Sunday night was the first opportunity to sit down together, share a meal and begin getting acquainted before the trip.

Throughout the journey, student "guardians" will be in service to their veterans, assisting them as they travel through Washington, D.C. and helping make the experience as memorable as possible.

Guardian Clay Nichols and Art Grigsby, representatives from Jayhawk-Linn on the flight, pose for a photo at Sunday's gathering. (Honor Flight 2026 Facebook)

Organizers encouraged guardians to think about what they could do for their veteran and reminded them that while the trip lasts only two days, the friendships formed along the way may last much longer.

The group will depart early Wednesday morning, June 3, from Kansas City International Airport before flying to Baltimore and traveling into Washington, D.C. Participants will spend two full days visiting memorials, historic sites and landmarks before returning to Kansas City International Airport at approximately 10:25 p.m. Thursday night, June 4.

Thanks to a slot opening up, a second veteran-guardian pair from Jayhawk-Linn will be included on the flight: veteran David Nickelson and his grandson Caden Nickelson.

Planned stops include Arlington National Cemetery, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, the Korean War Veterans Memorial, the World War II Memorial, the Lincoln Memorial, the National Archives, the United States Capitol, Fort McHenry, the Iwo Jima Memorial, and additional historic locations throughout the nation's capital.

For many participants, Honor Flight is about more than the places they visit. It is an opportunity to hear stories, make memories and honor the service of the men and women who have served our country.

A Facebook page titled "Honor Flight 2026" has been created to share photos, videos and updates throughout the journey. Community members are encouraged to follow along as the group travels to Washington, D.C. this week.