CRAVEN COUNTY -- Veterans returning to the East from Washington, D.C. had their flight delayed and were rerouted to Cherry Point Wednesday night. They landed at the Marine air station near midnight.

The plane was supposed to land in New Bern at 7:30 Wednesday night.

Passengers were first told the aircraft could not land at Coastal Carolina Regional Airport because of rain on the runway. The pilot then announced the plane was too heavy to land in New Bern.

"We sat on the plane for five hours, so we did a little gambling to pass the time," said Honor Flight veteran Chris Harrison. "But the entire trip was wonderful, certainly well worth it."

More than 1,000 people waited earlier in the evening for the veterans to return. The celebration planned for the original arrival time featured the Cherry Point Marine Corps band, as well as dozens of children with hand-made banners and American flags.

"I'm sad we won't be seeing the veterans come off the plane," third grader Marissa Stein. "But I love seeing all the people in uniforms and with flags saying thank you."

The honor flight took to the skies around 8:00 a.m. Wednesday. When the veterans arrived at Dulles, they were greeted with cheers and thank yous from a crowd of supporters. Their first stop was the World War II Memorial.