LAS VEGAS, Nev. (FOX5) – World War Two veterans Daniel Chevez and Thomas Pearson were greeted at the WWII memorial in Washington D.C. by lines of clapping students with roses.
Inside the memorial, students surrounded the veterans, handed them the roses, took photos with veterans and talked to them. Chevez, Pearson and Korean and Vietnam War veterans took a recent Honor Flight with Honor Flight Southern Nevada.
“I can’t believe it. It’s overwhelming, really. To see this many people and so much applauding for little old me. It makes me feel good,” said WWII veteran Daniel Chevez.
“I’m honored that they think so much of us,” said WWII veteran Thomas Pearson.
Honor Flight Southern Nevada’s mission is to honor the nation’s most senior veterans, WWII, Korea and Vietnam veterans, by taking them on a trip to Washington D.C to see memorials dedicated to their sacrifices. The all-volunteer non-profit supports veterans, so the trip comes at no cost to them.
At the WWII Memorial, 14-year-old Dallas student Kellan Fishpaw read a letter to Vietnam Veteran Donald Kapla, thanking him for his service to the United States.
“I need people who serve for us to know that they fought for our freedom and my thankfulness and gratefulness and gratitude for what they did for our country,” said Fishpaw.
“I had reservations about coming here, but now these people made me believe it was all worthwhile,” said Donald Kapla.
“It’s our pleasure to serve,” said Thomas Pearson.
Veterans toured several other memorials during the trip, including the Korean War and Vietnam War memorials, the United States Air Force Memorial, the U.S. Marine Corps Memorial, the National 9/11 Pentagon Memorial, along with other stops.
Watch for more stories of the trip on FOX5 News. More information about Honor Flight can be found at honorflightsouthernnevada.org.
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