With bagpipes echoing and flags lining the concourse, command leadership and Sailors from Training Support Center (TSC) Great Lakes and Naval Service Training Command (NSTC) Great Lakes welcomed home the final Honor Flight Chicago flight of the 2015 season, Sept. 30.

This was the seventh flight of 2015 and marked more than 500 World War II veterans who traveled to Washington, D.C., to tour historic monuments and World War II memorial sites as part of the honor fligh program.

"The best part about the day was watching the veterans get honored at the different memorial locations in Washington, D.C., by the younger generation," said Capt. John B. Vliet, TSC commanding officer who escorted a World War II veteran during the daylong excursion.

The partnership between TSC and NSTC has created an atmosphere that, on a small scale, mimics the classic welcome home photos of post-World War II photographs. Sailors and other service members, as well as members of the surrounding Chicago community, lined the concourse and each veteran was greeted with a salute and a handshake from Vliet and Rear Adm. Stephen C. Evans, commander NSTC.

The veterans are then invited to a meal and to interact with TSC and NSTC Sailors.

"It's important that the young Sailors that go to honor flight see the senior leadership embracing the community," Vliet said. "For me, it was an honor to have Admiral Evans there and it was also an honor to see the Sailors look up to Admiral Evans' leadership and care for both the veterans and then the Sailors themselves."

Although this is the last flight for 2015, TSC and NSTC will continue to work together on various other missions across the Great Lakes area. They will also be partnering again for the 2016 honor flight season which is set to begin in the spring.

"This was such an amazing experience and an outstanding way to welcome home our veterans," said Evans. "I am proud that NSTC and TSC continue as strong partners to properly honor those who have sacrificed so much for our great nation."

For more news from Training Support Center, Great Lakes, visit www.navy.mil/.