BAKERSFIELD, CA. — Anticipation and honor filled the Meadows Field Airport this morning as local veterans waited to board the 37th Honor Flight Kern County.

The flight boarded 23 veterans from the Korean War, WWII, and one Vietnam Veteran.

All of the veterans were accompanied by a guardian, most chose a family member. For one father-son pair, this morning was a highly anticipated event.

"The most obvious thing was when he had to get his doctors note and he wasn't sure if he was going to get to go," says Charles Sample. "But, as soon as the doctor signed off on it, he lit up like a kid going to Disneyland."

Sample's father is WWII Veteran, David Sample.

"It seems like it takes a good while to get there for something like this, but it arrived," David Sample.

The group returns Thursday at 8:30 p.m. The public is invited to welcome them back at Meadows Field Airport.