GRAND RAPIDS, Mich — Tuesday, Douglas Gardener placed a virtual reality headset on and toured the Korean War Memorial.
The Army Reserve veteran said "it brought back memories of the place." He had taken an Honor Flight there years before.
"I've been to what was on the video," said Gardener, "and it almost brought tears back. So happy, yet sorrowful too."
Emmanuel Hospice brought the virtual reality Honor Flight to area senior living communities ahead of Veterans' Day.
The idea behind the experience stems from some war veterans, like World War II veterans, are aging. Many are not able to physically take the Honor Flight trip to Washington D.C. This VR experience takes them there without leaving their home.
"Depending on when they serve, maybe they weren't welcomed home," said Jenny Kellogg, support programs manager for Emmanuel Hospice, "Maybe they don't have anybody to talk about it with. So, I think just offering them that space can be really impactful."
The videos show 3D videos of the World War II Memorial, the Iwo Jima Memorial. the Vietnam Wall and more. They are provided by the Honor Everywhere 360 app.
"I'm thinking about all the veterans in there in their 80s 90s, World War II men are sadly disappearing," said Bob Wilkinson, a naval reserve veteran, "Not too many left. All of them who fought for us and died for us."
"It's so special," said Kellogg, "We've had plenty of folks that have gone back to the rooms, brought out pictures, hats, you know, different things that they want to show off."
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