Twisp resident Tex Prewitt and other veterans were welcomed back at the Spokane airport on their return from an Honor Flight Network trip to Washington, D.C.
Twisp resident joined by other veterans in visit
It was genuinely the honor of a lifetime when Tex Prewitt joined about 100 other veterans and a dozen volunteers on an Honor Flight Network trip to visit memorials and monuments in Washington, D.C., this month.
Prewitt, a lifetime resident of Twisp who served in the U.S. Army in Vietnam as a helicopter door gunner in 1967 and ’68, was captivated by the depth of history he experienced, and thrilled by the gracious treatment all the vets received.
Prewitt was born and raised in Twisp, and he never left. “I was too broke to leave,” he said. Today, he lives with his sister, Ina Marie Remsberg. His brother Robert also lives in the valley, and his older brother Del lives in western Washington.
Veterans on the trip had served in World War II, the Korean War and in Vietnam. In D.C., they visited memorials to the nation’s conflicts, the Washington and Lincoln monuments, the White House, and Arlington Cemetery. The emphasis was on history, Prewitt said.
“We never talked much about war. We were more enthused about the memorials and history,” he said.
The visit was both exciting and moving. On the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, Prewitt found the names of people he’d known in Twisp and Okanogan County more than half a century ago.
Nationwide group
The Honor Flight Network is a national nonprofit with hubs around the country. Its trips give veterans the opportunity to share with comrades, remember the fallen, and trade stories and experiences with other veterans. The veterans always travel free of charge, covered by donations.
Veterans sign up for the Honor Flight and may have to wait a few years before a spot opens up.
Prewitt’s son joined the trip as a volunteer, assisting several vets from the area. They traveled through Inland Northwest Honor Flight, which is based in Spokane.
On their return to the Spokane airport, the group was welcomed by hundreds of people and a marching band, Prewitt said.
The trip included a hotel stay, meals, and transportation in Washington, D.C. Prewitt’s group spent just one night in D.C., but some groups stay for two nights.
Prewitt said he was lucky that his deployment in Vietnam ended when it did, because the arsenal and attacks became much more destructive after that.
It was Prewitt’s first trip to the other Washington. Prewitt, who’s used to the population and low-key rhythm of the valley, said he’d never been attracted to visiting a huge city, but he had nothing but enthusiasm for the experience. He urged other veterans to sign up with Honor Flight.
Information about the organization is at www.honorflight.org or info@honorflight.org. The local hub, Inland Northwest Honor Flight, has a Facebook page at www.facebook.com/INWHF.
