This morning, U.S. Senator Markwayne Mullin (R-OK), a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, surprised dozens of veterans from the Oklahoma Warriors Honor Flight during their visit to the U.S. Marine Corps War Memorial in Arlington, Virginia. The 67 Korean and Vietnam War veterans were accompanied by volunteers, medics, and staff.
The Oklahoma Warriors Honor Flight is a nonprofit organization that honors Oklahoma veterans—primarily from World War II, Korea, and Vietnam—by providing them with all-expenses-paid, one-day chartered flights from Tulsa, Oklahoma to Washington, D.C., to visit the memorials dedicated to their service.
“There is no greater joy than honoring the brave American heroes who fought to protect the freedoms we hold dear,” said Senator Mullin. “I loved speaking with the veterans today and reminding them just how much we appreciate their selfless service to our country. As I told some of the heroes who made the trip, my first ever visit to Washington, D.C. was on an Honor Flight with my grandfather, a WWII veteran, so these visits hold a very special place in my heart.”
During his visit, Senator Mullin connected some Oklahoma veterans with his casework staff that specializes in helping Oklahomans with federal agency issues, including at the VA. If you know a veteran in need of assistance with a federal agency, contact Senator Mullin’s office HERE.
The Iwo Jima Memorial’s world-famous statue, based on the iconic photograph taken by Associated Press photographer Joe Rosenthal, depicts the six soldiers who raised the second American flag at Iwo Jima in the Japanese Volcano Islands on February 23, 1945.
Background:
President Dwight D. Eisenhower dedicated the Iwo Jima Memorial in a ceremony on November 10, 1954— the 179th anniversary of the U.S. Marine Corps. The flag flies 24 hours a day, 365 days a year by presidential proclamation.
The Oklahoma Warriors Honor Flight program is part of the national Honor Flight Network, prioritizing WWII veterans and those who are terminally ill, and operates entirely on donations with no paid staff, ensuring 100% of funds go toward the mission.
Since its founding in 2017, the organization has completed multiple flights, transporting over 700 veterans to date. Governor Kevin Stitt proclaimed today, October 7, 2025, as “Oklahoma Warriors Honor Flight Day” to recognize the 29th flight on that date.
Trips depart early from Tulsa International Airport, include guided tours of sites like the WWII Memorial, Korean War Veterans Memorial, and Vietnam Veterans Memorial, and return the same evening with welcome-home ceremonies featuring family letters and community support.
