For almost six years, Honor Flight Nevada has been taking veterans to Washington, D.C. to visit the memorials built in their honor. Recently, Channel 2 News had the privilege of joining one of the groups.
It’s a blazing hot, humid day as the men exit the bus. But, there is not one word of complaint as the East Coast summer sun bears down. After all, these are not your ordinary senior citizens, these men are veterans.
We begin at one of the most visited war monuments in Washington D.C.: The Vietnam Memorial Wall - with the names of more than 58 thousand Americans who died or went missing in action. Marine veteran Frank Greenwood survived the Vietnam offensive - his cousin did not.
"It’s a roller coaster, (emotions) always up and down. Every time I come to the wall, it takes over me," says Frank Greenwood, tears welling up in his eyes.
Walking distance away is the haunting and realistic Korean War Memorial.
There are 19 figures, seven feet tall, life-like statues. Each one reflected in the shiny black granite panels - doubling the number, to symbolize the border between North and South Korea: the 38th parallel.
Honor Flight Nevada guardian Sharon Oren points out how detailed the attire and faces: "They're all dressed differently; Marine, Army, Navy."
There was a time when the action in Korea was considered “The Forgotten War," but for the men who battled there, they will always remember.
"The 500 men compounds where they were having their kangaroo courts and hanging the prisoners," recalls US Army veteran Richard Kephart.
And at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington Cemetery - a bugle plays in reverence for those who died without being identified - and headstones for hundreds of thousands who were.
Imposing in size, the Iwo Jima Memorial inspires awe - and folklore.
Marine veteran Bill Drummond shares: “The rumor is, there are 11 hands of the five men that are holding the flag and the 11th hand is the hand of God,”
The expansive World War II Memorial honors the 400,000 who died and the 16 million Americans who served. Wreaths mark every state that participated and carved into the walls, inscriptions like this: “There's something in the human spirit - a magic blend of skill, faith and valor."
The quickly diminishing number of those who served in World War II is what inspires Honor Flight to take veterans to Washington D.C. at no cost to them.
There are 133 chapters in the US.
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