Honor Tour was "very moving"

The 18 veterans, 18 companions and eight support staff members who visited Washington, D.C. last week on Northeast Iowa's first-ever honor tour say the trip was "very moving."

The group visited the World War II Memorial, the Korean and Vietnam War memorials and the Lincoln, FDR and Jefferson memorials.

But it was their visit to the Arlington National Cemetery that produced the strongest memories.  Four veterans in the group were chosen to lay a wreath on the grave of one of the veterans at Arlington Cemetery.  As they did, the observers started clapping and cheering for the Iowa group.  The scene became even more emotional when a bugler started playing "Taps."

One of the Honor Tour committee members, Bob Lillie, said the veterans were approached numerous times on their trip by people wanting to get their pictures taken with them. 

Flight organizer Kathy Hawkins says her group is organizing a second trip by veterans to Washington, D.C.  That trip will run from April 28th through May 3rd of next year and will be open to all veterans, not just WWII veterans.  For more information, contact Kathy or Denise at (563) 382-3639.