Veteran Spring Trip to Washington D.C. 2016

On May 12, 2016, Wish of a Lifetime sent 8 veterans and a gold-star wife to Washington, D.C. to see the nation’s war memorials for the first time. Veterans from the Vietnam War, Korean War, and World War II were all represented. The trip was absolutely incredible and, although the weather didn’t always cooperate, the group had quite a memorable experience. Along with visiting the war memorials, the group toured Arlington National Cemetery, visited the Udvar-Hazy National Air & Space Museum, and enjoyed a special dinner with American Legion Post 176 in Alexandria, Virginia.

The veterans who participated in the trip were—

· Morey, 95, from Colorado, who served in the Army Air Corps during WWII. He served in Europe and achieved the rank of Colonel. He was responsible for guiding pilots safely into airbases.

· Robert, 70, from Colorado, who served in the Army for over 20 years. He achieved rank of E-7 (Sergeant First Class). He served in Vietnam for over 2 years and was part of the 173rd Airborne Division.

· Bernard, 89, from Colorado, who served in the Army Air Corps from 1944-1948. He served as a pilot flying C-46 supply planes and as a mechanic. He was a Private First Class.

· Josiah, 73, from Colorado, who served in the Marines. He served stateside from 1960-1963 manning the base radio in the Mojave Desert.

· Bill, 94, from Colorado, who served in the Marines in the Pacific Theater, including Iwo Jima.

· Martin, 73, from Colorado, who was enlisted in the Air Force and served from 1963-1967. He served stateside at the NCIOC Inspector General’s Office for two years and in England for two years.

· Larry, 88, from Colorado, who served 3 years in the United States Marine Corp Aviation in Santa Ana, California, at the end of WWII.

· Jasper, 81, from Indiana, who served in the Marine Corps from 1952-1955. He served in a Jet Squadron in the Korean War for a year. He was a Buck Sergeant and Jet Mechanic in charge of maintaining the Colonel’s airplane.

· Isabelle, 92, from Washington, who is a Gold Star Wife. Her first husband was a Marine Radio Operator in a tank and was killed at Iwo Jima. She remarried another Marine who served in the 3rd Division throughout Europe and recently passed away.