SANFORD, Fla. —  A special group of women is embarking on the trip of a lifetime, to be honored in Washington, D.C., on Tuesday. The 109 veterans make up the first all-female trip for The Villages Honor Flight.

What You Need To Know

  • The first Honor Flight to recognize an all-female group of veterans departs for Washington on Tuesday

  • The Villages Honor Flight is taking 109 women to be recognized and honored

  • Among them is WWII Army veteran Ruth Jones, 97, the oldest to make the trip

“It’s about time,” said Liza Walters, Villages Honor Flight vice president of operations. “There are so many of them, and they’ve never really had the recognition before."

Army veteran Ruth Jones echoes that feeling, saying, she’s grateful that women’s contributions are finally being honored in this way. It was many years ago that she served, as a surgical technician for two years toward the end of World War II.

“I really enjoyed my service and am glad I could be of help to those wounded,” Jones explained.

When her group arrived, it was greeted by Seminole County Color Guard, then served breakfast at the Orlando Sanford Airport.

“I’m really shocked and surprised, but really pleased. It’s quite an honor,” Jones said.

The overnight trip will be her first time in Washington. The group is excited to see the monuments and museums, particularly the women’s memorial.

The Villages Honor Flight is a nonprofit that boasts of having flown more than 1,500 veterans to the nation’s capital for free to see their monuments.