FRESNO (KMJ) — The Central Valley Honor Flight has left Fresno Yosemite International Airport – bound for Washington D.C.
There were 68 veterans on board – from 27 hometowns with Fresno, Madera, Kings, and Tulare Counties amongst those represented. They left before 9am – with a water cannon salute from Fresno Fire Department.
“I think it’s great that we’re going back there”, says 90 year old Bill Harrah from Hanford – who served in the US Army in Europe. “I really thank the people that are sponsoring it – it’s really really good of them”.
“The people are honoring us after all these years. It’s been a long time coming but it’s real good”.
“They reflect the best and brightest America has to offer”, says Congressman Jim Costa. “They preserved and protected our nation and for that we can never say thank you enough”. In his speech the Congressman said the veterans leaving were America’s greatest generation.
The veterans will be seeing everything war related while they’re there – including Arlington National Cemetery, the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum, and the National World War 2 Memorial.
“It’s the first time that I’ve been on the flight”, said Marvin Shields from Visalia. “I’d like to see the statue of Iwo Jima. I went there – we were hit pretty hard there”.
The 94 year old served with the Navy and fought in the Battle of Midway in the Pacific. After the war he worked as a firefighter in Detroit – and came to the Central Valley 30 years ago to be a walnut grower.
