American Legion Post 147 members Joe Casten (Merchant Marine WWII Veteran) and Guardian Jack Rutherford joined over 80 WWII and Korean War Veterans on this highly memorable trip.
The average age of the Veterans attending was 91.5, with the oldest at 100.
There were 70 volunteer 'Guardians' accompanying the Veterans, as well as over 50 volunteers at each airport to assist. 150 Veterans, Guardians and Volunteers flew via a chartered USAir plane to Reagan National Airport in Wash. DC.
We then had three Police-escorted coaches to transport us to the memorials: The WWII Memorial on the Washington Mall, the Korean War Memorial, the Marine Corps Iwo Jima Memorial and the Air Force memorial.
WVIT sent a team with us and provided this coverage: http://tinyurl.com/mq4p3r3
.jpg)
Photo Courtesy of Chris Domlon BDL-Ops
Here are some pictures from the trip:
Greeting from BagPiper at Bradley Airport
Waiting in the Terminal
Getting ready to board
WWII Memorial entrance
WWII Memorial Overview
Joe Casten and unknown at the Connecticut pillar
Lincoln Memorial
Veterans Group Photo, Joe Casten in Center
The Korean War memorial
Lincoln Memorial
The Marine Corps (Iwo Jima) Memorial
Veterans Group Photo
The Air Force Memorial
Arriving home to massive reception!