A crowd holding American flags and patriotic signs cheered outside a Colorado Springs school as veterans departed for Washington, D.C., on Thursday on a trip to honor their service.

The 26 veterans on the trip, who served in World War II, and the Korean and Vietnam wars, expect to spend three days in Washington, visiting the war memorials and building camaraderie. The Honor Flight of Southern Colorado organizes the free trips that start and end with the fanfare that some veterans did not experience when they deployed or returned home.

The bus departed with an escort of law enforcement and Patriot Guard Riders on their motorcycles. The veterans will return on Saturday to a large welcome ceremony at Colorado Springs Christian School.

Army veteran Gerald “The Bear” Penn traveled with the nonprofit last year and found the trip helped him recover from the rejection he experienced when he returned from combat in Vietnam. Penn was honored with the Silver Star, the nation’s third-highest honor for valor, during his deployment from 1968 to 1969. But when he returned he got spit on and told to leave the country.

On his Honor Flight, he received a warm reception from strangers and bonded with other people who served in Vietnam.

“It is never too late to let the American people show you how much they really do appreciate you,” said Penn, who is now 76.

He found the the Arlington Cemetery and the Vietnam Veterans Memorial the most touching stops of the trip, he said. However, he couldn’t look for the names of the 15 soldiers killed the day he earned his Silver Star. His doctor told him that it’s likely the trauma shut down his brain during that time, because he can’t remember their names.

On the highly emotional trips, counselors travel with the veterans to help with the healing process, explained Penn’s friend and fellow veteran, Vern Lindgren.

Honor Flight Board Member Roger Bishop also traveled with Penn and saw how it helped him start to talk about his service and engage with veterans’ activities.

He described it as a “total turnaround” for Penn and another veteran on the trip.

Bishop would like to see the nonprofit grow its trips to serve two full buses of veterans on the two trips the nonprofit organizes each year. He sees it as an efficient way to grow the nonprofits services. The nonprofit  has more than 250 veterans on the waiting list.

The public is welcome to attend Saturday’s welcome home at Colorado Springs Christian School, 4855 Mallow Road.

Attendees are encouraged to be ready for the welcome home at 6:30 p.m. because the bus is expected to arrive between 6:45 and 7 p.m.

All are encouraged to bring a sign, an American flag and a friend. A short ceremony will be held inside the school.

To donate to future Honor Flights, visit honorflightsoco.net or text HFSOCO to 91999.