KALAMAZOO, Mich. - The Western Michigan baseball team honored members of the Greatest Generation in Kalamazoo on Saturday evening when they greeted 70 World War II veterans in a homecoming parade at the Air Zoo in Portage. The event was put together by Talons Out Honor Flight as well as Broncos For Heroes, a non-profit student organization at WMU whose mission is to support servicemen and women both past and present.

Talons Out Honor Flight sent 70 World War II veterans to Washington, D.C. on Saturday to visit WWII memorials; in many cases, it was the first time some of these veterans had ever seen them. The veterans left the airport at 4 a.m. on Saturday and returned home at 6 p.m. where they were greeted by members of the Kalamazoo community in a homecoming parade.

Members of the Bronco baseball team served as part of the “Wheelchair Brigade” at the event, assisting those veterans in wheelchairs so that their families and guardians were free to take photos and share in the emotional event. They assisted at the event from 7 p.m. until midnight, spending time with the veterans and letting them enjoy a special evening.