Heroes Among Us: 96-year-old Korean War veteran surprised by family during Honor Flight

SARASOTA, Fla. (WWSB) - What began as a journey to honor those who served turned into an unforgettable family reunion for the oldest veteran aboard Southwest Florida Honor Flight’s 25th mission.At 96, U.S. Army veteran Ralph Allen traveled to Washington, D.C., to visit the memorials dedicated to America’s service members. But when he arrived at the World War II Memorial, he was greeted by something he never expected.His family was waiting to surprise him.Allen’s relatives, who live in the Washington, D.C., area, gathered at the memorial to welcome him. For some, it was the first time they had seen him in years.“Oh, it was wonderful. He had no idea we were going to be here, and we hadn’t seen him in several years,” said his niece, Barbara Miller. “So, it was just wonderful to see him. He was so surprised.”Allen served in the U.S. Army from 1951 to 1953 during the Korean War era before spending another eight years in the Army Reserves.More than seven decades later, his service was recogn