WASHINGTON, D.C. – 78 veterans from Michigan’s Upper Peninsula were part of an Honor Flight. They traveled to and from our nation’s capitol to see the monuments and memorials dedicated to those who served.
For Michigan veterans like Richard Widner, last time he was in Washington, D.C., many of these monuments and memorials were not here.
“They weren’t here, just a bunch of portrayals,” recalled Widner. “I see these statues in front of me, that’s the way it was and they have ponchos on so I assume it was raining that day.”
Widner, along with 77 other veterans from the Upper Peninsula now get a chance to see the sites, monuments and memorials, dedicated to those who served.
“I was in during Vietnam, but I wasn’t in the country during Vietnam,” said Ed Hines, Air Force veteran.
“I spent four years in the Navy, two years in Guam and in Vietnam on a nonrotatable ship we sat out the coast of Vietnam and provided communications for all of the seventh fleet in Vietnam,” said Al Filizetti, Navy veteran.
These group of vets are part of an Honor Flight, they left the U.P. in the early morning hours to spend all day in our nation’s capitol to share in a day of honor at these memorials like the World War II Memorial, Korean War Memorial and the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. For many, it’s their first time in D.C. but for others, it’s a chance for them to experience something new.
“I’ve been here before and seen some of the memorials but I’ve never been to the changing of the guard,” said Filizetti.
But for each of them, this is a once in a lifetime trip.
“It’s an awesome experience to be able to be here and see all these memorials,” said Hines.
“It means a lot because I’m with other veterans,” said Filizetti.
“It’s great, great, great great,” said Widner. “I didn’t know if I would make it but I’m here.”
