Honor Flight gives veterans in South Mississippi the trip of a lifetime (WWII Vets)

Sun Herald ^ | Sept 26, 2012 | By MICHAEL NEWSOM

[Islander7]

WASHINGTON -- About 90 South Mississippi World War II veterans saw the memorial to their war Tuesday, and while there, many said they were thinking of those veterans who never lived to make the trip.

The group made up the fourth Mississippi Gulf Coast Honor Flight, a local effort to fly veterans to see the monument, funded by donations. Tuesday, they saw the World War II Memorial, as well as Washington's other sights. U.S. Coast Guard vet Nicholas Hire of Biloxi said he was impressed with the memorial, but while he was there, he was also remembering those lost during the war.

"(The memorial) gave me pride, made my chest swell out, but I was sad, too," he said. "I lost a lot of friends."

[Islander7]

The vets rode around Washington in buses. They passed some of the major sights, including the Potomac River, the Washington Monument and others. They also saw the Lincoln Memorial, and monuments to the Korean and Vietnam memorials, among other sites on the day-long trip.

The veterans also laid a wreath at Arlington National Cemetery at the Tomb of The Unknowns, where one member of the group, U.S. Army vet Jack Bailey, 85, of Collins, had served as a guard decades ago.

[Islander7]

Magnolia State Ping!

[SueRae]

What a wonderful thing to do for these veterans.

[dixiebelle]

What a wonderful story!! Thank you for posting this!

[dixiebelle]

What a wonderful story!! Thank you for posting this!