
By Virginia Huie
Veterans Day came early for a group of World War II vets from Long Island. On September 20 they went on a flight to their past -- an Honor Flight. It's a national organization that provides free one-day trips for veterans to see the World War II Memorial on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. 
The memorial wasn't built until 2004 -- 59 years after the war ended. Many veterans now in their 80s and 90s are too frail or don't have the money to afford the airfare to make it to the memorial on their own. Generous donors and volunteers are making the impossible possible for the aging veterans. Honor Flight picks up the tab for the plane ticket, bus fare and food. Volunteers known as "Honor Flight Guardians" help the veterans on and off the plane, push their wheelchairs and anything else they need to make their trip enjoyable.
Photojournalist Dave Garden and I had the privilege of accompanying 35 veterans from Long Island on an Honor Flight. They arrived at the airport to a hero's welcome. Complete strangers waved flags and cheered for them. When they got to the memorial the veterans marveled at the beauty of it all. The columns representing each of the fifty states, the breathtaking fountain and the inscriptions etched in stone describing their heroism.
That's Navy gunner Mort Roberts of East Northport with me on the left. He was 17 when he enlisted. Now 82, Roberts says it was a dream come true to see the memorial.
Roberts' war buddies -- Harold Chambers of East Northport and Charles Waldman of Huntington were also there. Waldman was particularly drawn to the Freedom Wall. It bears gold stars representing the 400,000 war dead. Among the fallen, Waldman's older brother and mentor, George. Waldman said, " I truly loved him. I mean I'm down here in his memory and I'm so happy to be here for him."
The lovely lady in the photo on the left is 91-year-old Marilouise Kelly of Hampton Bays. She was an Army nurse who served in Italy and London. The darkest moment of her service came when her brother was killed in the Battle of the Bulge. "It's a gift for me, " said Kelly of the opportunity to come to the memorial to honor his memory.
The Long Island chapter of Honor Flight is located in Southampton. Organizer Virginia Bennett says it has more than 100 Long Island veterans on the waiting list to see the memorial. Time is not on their side. About 1,200 World War II veterans a day are dying nationwide. Some have passed away before their turn came for an Honor Flight. It costs about $250 to send one veteran on trip to Washington. To learn more about how you can help with a donation or as a volunteer, call Honor Flight Long Island at ( 631) 702-2423.

It's a great way to say "Thank you" to the men and women who answered the call and saved the world.
To Honor Flight Long Island and the veterans -- thank you for letting me tag along. It was an unforgettable experience.