CTC Instructors, Students on Honor Flight

September 22, 2009: Columbus Technical College Nursing Instructor Kellie Byrd and Surgical Technology Program Manager Carl Sandy, along with two nursing students, were guardians to WWII veterans aboard the West Georgia Honor Flight. About 100 veterans and their guardians boarded the flight from the Columbus Metropolitan Airport early Tuesday morning. The group toured memorial sites in and around Washington, D.C. before returning home the same night. An estimated 1,500 people came to greet the group when they landed close to ten p.m. Tuesday.

Boy with sign

Honor Flight man with sign
Loved ones of all ages were among the estimated 1,500 who turned out at the Columbus Metropolitan Airport to welcome their heroes home.

Boy Scouts at Honor Flight
Members of a Columbus area Boy Scout troop handed out flags before the Welcome Home bash.

Surgical Technology Program Manager Carl Sandy is all smiles as he makes his way through the crowd after spending the day as a Guardian with the West Georgia Honor Flight group.

CTC Honor Flight Team
Columbus Technical College volunteers Carl Sandy, Nursing student Sarah Filipiak and Nursing Instructor Kellie Byrd (not shown: Nursing student Mike Robertson) pose for a quick picture at the Welcome Home ceremony.

The Columbus Technical College team all described the Honor Flight experience as "incredible" and they hope they can make the trip again in the future. Nursing student Mike Robertson posted pictures of his trip on a Picasa Web album. Click here to view.

Local NBC affiliate, WLTZ, spoke with Kellie and Carl about their adventure the day before their departure.