Fifty veterans received a rare treat earlier this month when they were flown to Washington, D.C., for a day filled with adventure and sight-seeing.
The one-day trip began at 3:30 a.m. and lasted until 11 p.m. that night. It included a flight to and from Washington and tours of five historic sites while in the nation’s capital.
McMinnville resident Jack Puckett was among the group of World War II and Korean War veterans who made the trip. Puckett, 88, said it was an invigorating experience.
“Of all the times I’ve been up to D.C. to visit, this was the most enjoyable,” said Puckett. “I really want to get the word out to all the World War II and Korean War veterans about this program. To get to go, all you have to do is ask. It costs absolutely nothing.”
The program is called Honor Flight of Middle Tennessee. It’s designed to allow veterans to visit war memorials in D.C. and observe the changing of the guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery.
“There are plenty of caregivers who make the trip to provide assistance,” said Puckett. “Several of the veterans are in wheelchairs and they are assigned one caregiver each.”
The group left Manchester at 3:30 a.m. and took a flight from Nashville to Baltimore. Once in D.C., the veterans got to meet Bob and Elizabeth Dole at the World War II Memorial and talked with veterans from eight other Honor Flights.
After a short lunch, they visited the Korean War Memorial and Arlington National Cemetery where they were greeted by Coffee County graduate and Army Maj. Paul Sipe and his wife, Jessica.
The group drove by the Marine Corps Iwo Jima Memorial, the Air Force Memorial, and The Pentagon.
The last stop was at Fort Mead where the group ate dinner and was treated to a demonstration by highly trained military dogs. Puckett said the dogs were one of the most impressive parts of the trip.
The group took a return flight from Baltimore to Nashville and returned back to Manchester at 11 p.m. Puckett said he wasn’t exhausted by the marathon day.
“I still got up and made it to Sunday school the next morning,” he said. “I’d be happy to help any World War II or Korean War veteran I can take this flight.”
Puckett can be reached at 808-6816. Larry Williams is also available with Honor Flight information. He can be reached at (931) 924-3000.
Honor Flight flew its first group of veterans to Washington, D.C., in 2008. Its a nonprofit organization.