Central Valley veterans return from 35th Honor Flight to hero's welcome

Nearly 70 Central Valley veterans received a hero's welcome Wednesday night upon returning from the 35th Central Valley Honor Flight, a three-day trip to visit memorials and sites dedicated to their service. Family, friends, and supporters gathered at Fresno Yosemite International Airport to greet them. The flight included 68 veterans from the Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, and Army. Supporters waved flags and held signs as music played, with attendees like Ariana Flores of Los Banos FFA emphasizing the importance of giving veterans the welcome they never had. Elena Bustamante of Kerman attended with her daughter to welcome her father, Rudy Bustamante, a Vietnam veteran and Purple Heart recipient. Rudy Bustamante, a Marine Corps scout sniper from 1967 to 1969, was wounded twice in combat. During the trip, he and three other veterans laid a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. The next Honor Flight is scheduled for October.