Longtime Excelsior Springs resident and veteran Barry Dale recently had the opportunity to visit Washington, D.C., through the Honor Flight Network of Kansas City free of charge. The Honor Flight Network, a nonprofit organization, works with independent hubs to provide American veterans an opportunity to be appreciated for serving their country by visiting the nation’s capital and touring national memorials commemorating their service. Dale explained he had wanted to partake in an Honor Flight ever since a late comrade of his, Carl Willson, had raved about how wonderful the experience was. Once he applied to take the flight, he was over the moon about being able to be part of the momentous adventure. Dale was drafted into the U.S. Army in December 1970 to serve in the Vietnam War when he returned from the war in 1972; he explained people acted like it was the soldier’s fault for even being involved in the war in the first place. The Honor Flight made Dale feel appreciated for the…