A group of Nashville-area World War II veterans received a free trip to Washington, D.C., on Wednesday to visit the National World War II Memorial built in their honor.
The local veterans and their guardians flew out of Nashville International Airport. The trip is being coordinated by Music City Honor Flight, a Nashville nonprofit established to honor Tennessee's World War II veterans.
In Washington, buses transported them to the National World War II Memorial as well as other monuments, including the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, Korean War Veterans Memorial, Air Force Memorial, Arlington National Cemetery and the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.
For some like Harold Young, a World War II veteran, it is an experience of a lifetime, because he'd never been to Washington before.
"There's a lot of wonderful history there. A lot of people paid a high price to have what we have here in this country," said Young. "And we are going to see some of that. And that's what chokes me up a little."
The opportunity also allowed some overdue story swapping and rekindling of their unique brotherhood.
"The time is getting up on some of them, or some of us, I should say, but it's good to see them up and going anyway," said World War II veteran Robert Luster.
"I wasn't sure at first if he was up for it, but we applied and got picked so we feel very honored and blessed we were able to do it together," said Young's son, Richard Young.
Many veterans took their sons along as escorts on the trip, which is arranged solely through volunteers and donations.
"You couldn't ask for a better group of people from Middle Tennessee for the money they have donated. You figure it this way, it takes almost $60,000 to put a flight on, and this is our fifth flight," said Gary Drennon, co-chairman of Music City Honor Flight.
With a wave and a smile, the group boarded the plane and saw one final gesture before takeoff - a water cannon salute from the Nashville firefighters.
The public can welcome back the veteran heroes Wednesday evening. They are scheduled to arrive back at the Nashville International Airport at 7:45 p.m.
If you know of a World War II veteran that would like to be a part of an upcoming honor flight, apply at www.HonorFlight.org.
Copyright WSMV 2012 (Meredith Corporation). All rights reserved. The Associated Press contributed to this report.
