A group of World War II Veterans called it the trip of a lifetime. It was one of a series of trips to the National World War II Memorial Arranged by Louisiana Volunteers to thank the veterans who fought for freedom.

They met at the Baton Rouge airport at 5:30 a.m., but the trip to Washington, D.C., has them as excited as new recruits.

“Looking forward to it, I’ve been hopped up for the last month or two,” said Ken Languth, a veteran from Napoleonville. “I’ve been sitting on ready for weeks, and we’re really looking forward to it. Just met another guy from Okinawa, we were there together.”

The one day trip to the nation’s capitol was arranged by Louisiana Honor Air, a volunteer group.  Lafayette broadcaster, T. D. Smith founded Louisiana Honor Air.

“Ninety percent of these guys and gals would have never have the opportunity to see their memorial that was built for them, if we didn’t take them,” he said.

One hundred-and-two veterans made the flight, accompanied by escorts and medical teams. The oldest veteran was 96, the youngest was 79.

The were stunned by the warm welcome they received in Washington, as members of the symphony played, travelers rushing to catch flights paused to cheer them on, including members of the Hot 8 Brass Band from New Orleans.

“To see the veterans get off the plan, the spirit they have, it is beautiful, it is a beautiful experience for me to have at my young age,” said Hot Eight Brass Band Member, Benny Pete.

At the National World War II Memorial, some veterans pulled out their cameras, and some just stared at the monument to the 16 million men and women who served and the 400 thousand who died.

Under the columns dedicated to Louisiana, they were welcomed by former Secretary of State and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Colin Powell.

“All these years later, we finally have a memorial that recognizes their service,” said Powell. “And I think it means so much to them to come and see this memorial, and it means so much to me to connect with an earlier generation of soldiers.”

“It’s very humbling frankly, I’m just overwhelmed by the ambiance of the reception,” said Navy veteran Charles Frank. “When they fired a broadside, it sucked all the oxygen out and we were like fish out of water and we’re going uh, uh, all I could try to say was cease fire.”      

“If I didn’t have these people around me here, kidding with them, I probably would be in tears by now,” said Harahan veteran John Witmeyer.

For some, the memories were too strong. J.J. Witmeyer was part of the D-Day Invasion. He was wounded twice in five months and thinks about the decisions he had to make as an infantry officer.

“Sometimes I feel so responsible,” he said. “If I sent a fella across the road, and he put his head up on the other side of the hedge, and he’d get shot in the middle of the forehead, and every time I sent somebody else I knew the same thing was going to happen to him.”

It was a long day filled with visits to monuments across Washington, from the memorial to President Franklin Roosevelt to the Iwo Jima and Korean War sites.

Some members of the group once carried rifles, now some walk with canes. They once drove tanks, now they ride in wheelchairs. But for this one day, they felt young again.

“I was in the first class of women officers the Navy ever had, and I was there really because the man I planned to marry died at Pearl Harbor,” said Monroe veteran Dean Johnson.

And everywhere they went, the veterans were honored as heroes.

“Sir, 1000 years from now we’ll still be telling your story,” said Washington college student John McCaskill. “We appreciate you guys, thank you so much. Thank you, sir.”

This is the 14th flight by Louisiana Honor Air and at least seven more are planned, including some from Shreveport in the spring and from New Orleans next fall. The veterans fly for free, because donations make the flights possible.

“It's $75,000 for each flight. It really hasn't been that difficult so far. People are really generous when it comes to World War II veterans,” Smith said.

“It’s unbelievable, gosh there are so many people, and there’s more every day,” Metairie veteran Bill O’Brien said. “It’s hard to look, it really is, God, they were such wonderful people, but at lease we’ve got a place where they can rest in peace.”

When they returned to Baton Rouge, there was one more surprise, a grand welcome home from friends and family.