Long Island’s Vietnam War Veterans received a special honor on May 4, 2024, during their visit to Washington, D.C. sponsored by Honor Flight Long Island. A heartfelt musical performance was given by Eric Wieboldt, a long-time Honor Flight volunteer and Guardian. Despite the pouring rain, Eric performed his original song titled “Welcome Home, My Brother,” which caused many tearful eyes in the dozens of Veterans and onlookers present.
In anticipation of being a Guardian on the May 4th Honor Flight to D.C., Eric was inspired to write his song, a prayer really, called “Welcome Home, My Brother.” This is because our Vietnam Veterans never received a proper welcome home. His song is an attempt to right that wrong. Eric is grateful to Honor Flight Long Island for including him in their continued efforts to support and pay tribute to our Veterans.
Many Honor Flight officials, as well as Veterans' families and onlookers, were on hand for his moving performance. “Eric’s song honored the cohort of Vietnam Veterans that Honor Flight brought to D.C. on May 4th,” said Bill Jones, President, Honor Flight Long Island, U.S. Army Veteran and West Point Graduate. “His song was part of our ongoing efforts to give long overdue recognition and thanks for their service. Honoring our Vietnam Vets means a lot to these guys, even after all these years,” Jones said.
Eric was born in 1957, grew up in Levittown and now lives in Merrick. During 2014, Eric shared his first Honor Flight mission as a Guardian for his father, the late World War II Veteran Robert Wieboldt of the U.S. Army Air Corps. During the pandemic, Eric sang at many “drive-by” Centenarian Veterans’ birthday parties and the Phoenix Rising Award Ceremony honoring local Veterans’ groups and individuals.
In partnership with Honor Flight Long Island, Eric is launching a nation-wide campaign to bring the message of his comforting and emotionally powerful song to millions of Americans. Eric will be honored to perform his copyrighted song by special request to Honor Flight. Interested parties please contact Bill Jones at (631) 276-8825 or ddbeach5@gmail.com.
Attached, for your consideration and review, is an audio recording of Eric Wieboldt’s “Welcome Home, My Brother,” plus a video of his May 4th performance in D.C. and lyrics. Eric will perform his song for the Vietnam Veterans who visited D.C., at their American Airpower Museum reunion on August 3, 2024. Members of the public arriving for this event from 10:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. may attend free of charge!
Our goal is to bring Eric's anthem of healing and honor, to as many Vietnam Veterans as possible. Would you like to assist Eric in reaching greater audiences, here on Long Island and beyond? If so, join with Honor Flight and help us launch our "Welcome Home, My Brother" Campaign!
Contact: Robert F. Salant, Public Affairs, (516) 328-3959, (718) 791 4758, rsalant123@outlook.com.