BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KERO) — Honor Flight 52 landed in Washington, DC on Tuesday, shuttling 173 veterans, guardians, and support staff around the nation's capital, visiting the memorials, beginning with the WWII memorial.
BROADCAST TRANSCRIPT
Day two of the Honor Flight is all about the memorials. We're here at the US Marine Corps Memorial. I'm Mike Hart, your senior reporter, and Honor Flight 52 has provided all of the emotions that you could expect from this day.
"So with us today, we have one World War II veteran, Mr. Mel Corren."
The day began at the World War II Memorial with a salute to a single man.
"It's something that makes us feel that we have accomplished something," said Mel Corren, a 101-year-old veteran, who took in the moment for all who came before him and the few who remain.
"And it's a wonderful tribute to the people who served the country, and we did," said Corren.
In the early morning shadow of the Washington Memorial on one side, and the reflecting pool on the other, the veterans made their way to the Korean War Memorial to honor more than a half dozen local vets, including 100-year-old Norma Lamassas, the 19 stainless steel statues representing the 1.5 million service members who took part in that war. From there, the veterans then make the long walk down the path to the Vietnam Wall. For some, they were searching the memorial for names from the past, while others found the memories still too much to bear.
"A lot of pain radiates from that wall," said Larry Geye, a member of the Big Red One. He served 8 months before he was wounded in action during a firefight.
"Do you want to look for any names?" I asked Larry as he sat on the opposite side of the walkway.
"No, you know it's been a long, long time, and I don't remember most of them," said Larry, "I remember the guys. I can't remember the names, I can, I can see their faces."
The rest of the day provided veterans with a chance to honor their branch of service at the Marine Corps Memorial, the Air Force Memorial, and Arlington National Cemetery, the tomb of the unknown, home to the Army's Old Guard. Four local veterans took part in the traditional wreath-laying ceremony.
Finally, it was a chance to honor 4 local women who served in the military with a recognition ceremony at the Women's Memorial.
The veterans are back home now, with preparations underway for Flight 53 sometime in the spring of 2026.
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