Thirty World War II and Korean War veterans returned from a weekend trip put on by Honor Flights to Washington D.C. Sunday night, where they visited memorials made in their honor.
The busload of the honored veterans pulled into the Shasta Factory Outlets in Anderson Sunday evening with a full escort from the Patriot Guard motorcycle riders. Flag-waving friends and relatives were also there to greet them. Bill Crary served in the Marine Corps during the Korean War. He says he liked his memorial the best, but he was most humbled at the Arlington National Cemetery.
“So many people died — it brought it home,” he said.
Lester Cotton served in the Coast Guard in the South Pacific during World War II. He says he was surprised by the reception he got both in Washington, and even at the San Francisco Airport.
“I didn’t really believe that there’s that many patriotic people around yet,” he said.
Seven of the veterans were from the Veterans Home of Northern California in Redding. This was the first time they had participated in the program. A spokesman says they plan on sending as many veterans as possible on subsequent trips. Honor Flights of Northern California covers the entire cost for the aging veterans to see their memorials and plans several trips each year.