Sisters raise thousands to help older veterans participate in honor flights: ‘We love our veterans’



A pair of sisters from southwest Ohio are giving back to America’s veterans in a big way by raising thousands of dollars for honor flights.

Twelve-year-old Tessa Ziegler and eight-year-old Raya Ziegler raised more than $30,000 to help the Honor Flight Network, which flies veterans to Washington, DC, where they visit memorials in honor of their sacrifice.

“I love seeing the veterans and their smiles after they come home from the Flight of Honor,” Tessa continued “American newsroom” Thursday.

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The older sister said the duo were inspired to join the cause after riding along for an honor flight.

“My mom inspired me because her friend invited us on an honor flight and we just really enjoyed it, and we just wanted to keep going back to it.”

Raya told co-host Bill Hemmer that she was inspired to help at such a young age “because I love our veterans, because they are so nice.”

Rachel Ziegler, mother of the two fundraising sisters, said it is an “honor” to help support American veterans via the Honor Flights network.

“We just love our veterans here. And we know that most of the veterans who are on the honor flights now are Vietnam veterans, Korean. We know they didn’t come home at all. Many of them were spat on. People tried to fight them. she said.

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“So to be able to be present at these Honor Flight homecomings and be able to welcome them home and give them the homecoming that they really deserved – shaking their hands, thanking them for their service – is really going to be emotional. They are happy. I’m crying. It’s just such a great program.”