More than 65 years after the end of World II, a group of Ohio veterans made a recent trip toWashington D.C. to honor the fallen and remember their sacrifice.
On this particular journey, veterans recalled flashes of courage and fear, all while sharingmoments of triumph and unspeakable loss, 10TV's Maureen Kocot reported.
As they gathered at Port Columbus International Airport for their departing flight, theseveterans, 76 men now in their 80s and 90s, found themselves as eager as little boys on Christmasmorning.
Some said the excitement made it difficult to sleep the night before.
SLIDESHOW: Honor Flight | VIDEO EXTRA: Honor Flight Takes Veterans To Washington D.C.
As their plane left Columbus, none of the veterans were aware that a hero's welcome awaited themin Washington D.C.
The group eventually reached the World War II Memorial, where veterans like Fred Hartmanfound time to reflect.
"They tell me that I better come now, because I'm 95 years old," Hartman said with a laugh.
The Freedom Wall bears 4,000 gold stars, each symbolizing 100-war dead. Theseveterans saw those stars fall.
"And they (were) killed , right in front of me," said Ohio veteran Don Jakeway. "Deloach,Belaire and Tanner and Vaschon and Medford and I was right there in the midst of that I never gothit."
At Arlington National Cemetery, at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, the veterans watched thesilent Changing of the Guard.
Jakeway recalled his comrades who never made it home, and a promise the men made to eachother.
"There was five of us that put a pact together. If we got home together we were going tovisit one another. And I'm the only one that got back out of that whole bunch," Jakewaysaid.
The trip allowed this group of men a chance to reflect on what was lost, and gained.
"It's been well worth it," said Hartman. "They all said it would be, and it sure has."
Jack Wunderle flew 44 missions as a bomber pilot during World War II.
"There is a worry all the way over and all the way back," Wunderle said. "It's an experiencethat never goes away."
The trip was made possible through Honor Flight, a volunteer organization that relies ondonations to send hundreds of veterans to the nation's capitol.
Honor Flight is looking for more World War II survivors who want to make a trip to WashingtonD.C.
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