Voyage of Valor: A Highlight of 10 years with AARP

Becky Farrell

A Voyage of Valor: One of the Greatest Honors of My Time with AARP Wyoming

As someone who frequently travels to Washington, D.C. for work, I’m usually looking at the inside of hotel and conference rooms. But the recent Voyage of Valor trip with sixteen incredible Wyoming veterans completely transformed what it means for me to be in our nation’s capital.

This wasn’t a work meeting. This was a journey of reflection, connection, and honor.

Wish of a Lifetime teamed up with our AARP Wyoming team to give these older veterans and their companions an all-expenses-paid trip to D.C. to visit the monuments built in their honor.

What I expected was a meaningful trip to iconic memorials and national landmarks. And those moments were indeed powerful—the Vietnam Memorial Wall, the Changing of the Guard at Arlington, the Women in Military Service Memorial. But what truly moved me, what I will never forget, were the quiet conversations, the camaraderie, and the tearful gratitude expressed by strangers in airports and hotel lobbies who stopped just to say, “Thank you for your service.”

These veterans, now in their 70s and 80s, stood taller and prouder with every handshake and every word of appreciation. It wasn’t just a trip. It was a homecoming, decades overdue.

Each story I heard added another layer to the profound sense of respect I feel for our veterans. From a helicopter gunner shot down three times in Vietnam, to a young woman who joined the Navy at a time when few women served, to a combat medic who earned a Bronze Star under fire—every one of these heroes carried memories that shaped not only their own lives, but our country’s history.

Welcome Home!  

Many of these men and women had never received the welcome they deserved when they returned from war decades ago. Instead, they were called names, insulted, and in some cases even spit on. We sought to change that story.

As we pulled into Cheyenne, we were greeted by a group of nearly 20 veterans on motorcycles. They escorted our bus to a Cheyenne park where hundreds of people waited waited to welcome these veterans home. Flags waved, signs were held high, and tears flowed freely—veterans and civilians alike. For most of the participants, it was the first time they had ever been truly thanked or honored in such a public and heartfelt way.

It was powerful. It was emotional. It was healing. And for me personally, it was one of the absolute highlights of my time as AARP Wyoming’s State Director.

Thank you.  

AARP has long been committed to serving veterans, military members, and their families—not just with words, but with meaningful action. From fraud prevention resources to caregiving support and advocacy, AARP continues to fight for those who have served.

But sometimes, service is best expressed through listening, honoring, and simply showing up. That’s what the Voyage of Valor was all about.

To the veterans who joined us: thank you for your service. Thank you for your stories. Thank you for letting me walk beside you. And to every AARP member in Wyoming who has worn the uniform or supported someone who has: this trip was for you, too.

Thank you for your service, and welcome home.