WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The Inland Northwest Honor Flight program was faced with a growing waiting list just four months ago. Aging veterans, wishing to visit the war monuments in Washington, D.C., were running out of time. Yet, thanks to the generosity of KREM 2 viewers, the wishes of 25 veterans came true.
Wednesday morning, they arrived at the WWII memorial to tour the magnificent monument. KREM 2's Randy Shaw went with them to witness their reaction to the monument.
The memorial built in honor of these veterans is a wondrous site to behold. It's oval shape with pools of water and shooting fountains flanked by a pavilion commemorating the Atlantic war front and the Pacific war front. 56 huge columns rise from the oval, each representing an individual state or U.S. territory. They are all tied together with a gigantic bronze rope symbolizing a common cause.
"It has been everything that I've expected and the impression just being here with this particular program is the greatest thing I've done in a long time," said U.S. Navy Gunner Frank Sturman.
"You don't realize how wonderful this monument is until you see it in person and it brings tears," commented Coast Guard Spar Betty Meyer.
They come here to honor those who fell and to heal the hurt that shows itself only briefly in the form of tears.
"(This memorial) makes me feel better. Makes me feel good. I enjoy seeing all the stuff that they've done and I just know that somebody was pushing to...remember us," said Army Veteran John Lukich.
And someone else enjoys it here as well. A former presidential candidate and a man who comes here often to meet and greet the veterans of the memorial he helped build. Retired U.S. Senator, Bob Dole, poses with and jokes with any veteran who wants him to. He even jokes about the 190-million dollars he helped raise to build the monument.
As the veterans were leaving the monument, they agreed on one thing, that they want to make sure the people of Spokane and the Inland Northwest do not forget to keep contributing to Honor Flight so some of their other colleagues can make this trip of a lifetime as well.
That group of veterans returns to Spokane Thursday. KREM 2 wants to help make their homecoming special by encouraging you to be there when they land. The Honor Flight veterans land Thursday evening at 8:55 at the Spokane International Airport.
