On Tuesday afternoon, 23 Alaska veterans departed Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport bound for Washington D.C. where they'll visit the memorials built to honor their service and the sacrifice of their fellow soldiers.

The trip is the 13th Last Frontier Honor Flight. This trip’s veterans served in World War II, Korea and Vietnam.

Sen. Lisa Murkowski spoke with the men individually before they went through security. Just before boarding an Alaska Airlines employee led the veterans and their guardians in several patriotic songs.

The veterans and their guardians flew to Portland on Tuesday. They will fly to Washington D.C. on Wednesday and spend Thursday visiting sites in the nation’s capitol.

The veterans will return to Anchorage on Saturday. Anyone wanting to help give the veterans a hero’s welcome can greet and cheer the men when their flight arrives Saturday afternoon at 2:25 p.m.