Free Webinar: Fraud on the Line—Phone & Text Scams, May 18, 3 PM ET

Content starts here

Voyage of Valor Welcomes Home 15 Wyoming Veterans

AARP

Published May 12, 2026

Veteran being honored through voyage of valor

Josephine Carlson/Legacy Photo for Wish of a Lifetime by AARP

A year-long journey honoring Vietnam‑era veterans through connection, remembrance, and storytelling ended with a hero’s welcome in Cheyenne on April 11 as 15 Vietnam-era veterans from the Cowboy State and their companions returned from Washington, DC.

The trip to DC is made possible through a partnership with AARP Wyoming and Wish of a Lifetime from AARP, which grants life-changing wishes to older adults and inspires people to redefine aging in America. This Voyage of Valor was the second in two years for Wyoming veterans and ran from April 5-11. While in Washington, DC, the veterans toured several national monuments, were honored during a Washington Nationals baseball game, and got a rare view of the US Capitol before returning home.

“From early moments of camaraderie to the powerful visit to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial and the final homecoming celebration, each step affirms their service and legacy,” said Jared Bloomfield, Field Program Director, Wish of a Lifetime from AARP. “Voyage of Valor is more than a trip—it’s a yearlong experience that builds trust, connection, and emotional healing.”

A Complicated Time Means a Struggle for Closure

Vietnam Veterans returned home to a divided nation. Some were embraced; others were met with silence, misunderstanding, or even hostility. Many still hold complex feelings about the war, and about their own service and actions. Today, we are rewriting that story. Voyage of Valor is a national movement to honor these heroes with the dignity, gratitude, and healing they deserve.

Last year’s Voyage of Valor participants commonly remarked that the trip offered the welcome home they never received upon arriving in the US after their service in Southeast Asia.

Buffalo, Wyo., veteran Don Sillivan told AARP that when he returned to the US after his tour as a helicopter crew chief in Vietnam, he was told by a local veterans group that he wasn’t welcome because “Vietnam wasn’t a war, it was a conflict.” He has turned that frustration into a career helping veterans at home through his service as an active member of the American Legion, where he has served as post president for almost 35 years.

Most Popular

On April 11, Sullivan and his fellow veterans received an escort from the Combat Veterans Motorcycle Club and were bused to the Lincoln Theater in Cheyenne, where they received the “welcome home many of them never did when their service ended. Bloomfield was joined by Wyoming’s lone U.S. representative, Harriet Hageman, in thanking the veteran contingent for their sacrifice. A color guard from South High School JROTC presented the colors, and 67th National Guard Band horn player Bryley Warning played the national anthem and taps, and a crowd of Wyomingites, including at least three veterans who went on last year’s Voyage of Valor, formed a receiving line to greet the veterans.

“Every veteran’s journey is distinct. Yet for many who served in Vietnam, that journey carries a powerful and painful common thread: the emotional weight of memories and the silent battles they brought home,” Bloomfield said. “This journey is not just about visiting memorials – it’s about rediscovering the strength of shared service and the healing power of being seen and celebrated.”

How you can support the voyage

The generosity of donors and supporters of The Voyage of Valor has changed lives. There are still several ways to support the effort. They include:

Give in tribute to a veteran’s service. Whether it’s $17 for lunch or $100 for a wheelchair, every gift is a gesture of gratitude.
Sign the Wall of Valor: Add your name to a growing tribute of Americans who stand in honor of those who served.
Offer corporate support: Contact Scott Miller, Director of Business Development for Wish of a Lifetime, at scott@wishofalifetime.org or 303-264-0172.