WASHINGTON — Walking into any one of the nation's war memorials in Washington will stop you in your tracks.
The World War II memorial in Washington creates a space of peace and serenity. Fountains flowing water, surrounded by giant pillars with oak and wheat bronze wreaths, a pool of water reflecting a wall of 4,048 stars which represent the more than 400,000 service members who died in the war.
The peace also brings grief.
Del Jessen, an Army veteran, planned to honor his father, Elbert, and his daughter's father-in-law, David Osborn at the World War II memorial.
"I didn't think it was going to touch me this bad," Jessen said, "but it's good, and I'm glad to bring my dad along," he said holding back tears.
Paul Knott, an Air Force veteran, never met one of his uncles, who died on D-Day, coming to the World War II memorial brought Knott some peace.
"This is a fitting monument for the people that fought this war, that won this war," Knott said, "I'm hoping that younger folks look at this and say this is worth fighting for, this is worth defending."
29 local veterans are on the "Honor Flight of Southern Colorado", it's all all-expense paid trip for these local vets to see the memorials created in honor of the wars they and their fellow servicemen and women fought in.
Similar emotions were felt for veterans at the Korean War memorial, Gordon Stevens, a Marine, didn't get sent overseas, as the war was ending as he began his service.
"These guys on the wall were just a year ahead of me in the Korean War," Stevens said, "when I got out of boot camp, I didn't think I was coming home."
Taking a moment to acknowledge the 19 steel statues at the memorial, it brought back memories, "these ponchos these guys had, it's called a shelter half and two guys would join together and make a tent when they were in combat," Stevens said.
A majority of the veterans on this Honor Flight served during the Vietnam war, some of them stayed in the United States during their service, others were sent to fight. This trip has been filled with a mix of emotions, many of them didn't receive a warm welcome upon coming home.
The Honor Flight hopes to change that experience, by empowering Vietnam veterans to wear their hats denoting their service, and giving them a warm welcome wherever they go.
Seeing the wall of names of those killed, brought back difficult memories for these veterans. For some, it was a matter of not getting to say goodbye to those who became their brothers and friends.
ADDITIONAL HONOR FLIGHT COVERAGE
Veterans from Southern Colorado begin their journey for Honor Flight of Southern Colorado #18
The welcome home they never got: veterans return from Honor Flight
"Amazing" veterans receive letters, photos during final "mail call"
From boot camp to honor flight: a friendship spanning decades and milestones
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