The first-ever Juneteenth Honor Flight took place in Washington, D.C., celebrating African American men and women who have served in America's armed forces throughout history.The veterans, who served in World War II, the Korean War, and Vietnam were honored in the nation's capital on Juneteenth."It's outstanding because I haven't really been exposed to anything like this," said Joan Taylor, an Air Force veteran.The veterans visited national memorials, from the Martin Luther King Jr. memorial to the Marine Corps War Memorial.However, for some who fought in combat, the trip was bittersweet."I'm looking forward to seeing some of the friends that lost their lives in Vietnam on the wall and paying my respects," said Dennis Brazil, an Army veteran.Brazil, who was drafted into the Army, was among those who battled racism while serving."It manifest on who was out in the jungle, if you will, doing the fighting and who was assigned to jobs in the rear, which is a little more safer assignments," Brazil explained.John McCaskill, a historian and Honor Flight board member, emphasized the importance of recognizing the struggles faced by black veterans."Outside the wire, there was one enemy and then inside the wire there's, you know, you're having to fight some other stuff," McCaskill said.McCaskill further stressed the significance of honoring Black veterans."All of these veterans have contributed to the country that we have today. They're a part of this national fabric and that's just one of the reasons why you want to honor them," McCaskill stated.McCaskill also highlighted the importance of the next generation seeing these veterans and being inspired by them.The Juneteenth Honor Flight serves as a reminder of the sacrifices made by African American veterans and their crucial role in shaping the nation's history.Honor Flight Network says it's taken nearly 300,000 veterans to Washington, D.C., since 2005.