Honor Flight helps vet takes in WW II Memorial

Overpowering.

That’s how Fred Wedhorn, 97, described the realization of a yearlong dream to see the World War II Memorial in Washington, D.C.

Wedhorn, of Tucson, made the trip on the 65th anniversary of D-Day (June 6, 1944) thanks to Honor Flight, a non-profit group that raises money to send aging and ill World War II veterans to see the memorial before they die.

Wedhorn was chosen to fly as a “Lone Eagle” by the Honor Flight Network, a non-profit group that raises money to send World War II veterans to see the memorial. A Lone Eagle is a veteran who flies independently of a group and meets up with other veterans in the nation’s capital.

Wedhorn and his niece Barbara Friedman flew to see the 7.4-acre memorial honoring those who fought and those who died in the war.

“The memorial is overpowering, very overpowering... I never realized how many were in this war,” Wedhorn said. “The first thing you think about is your brothers. I thought about those who survived and those who died. So many were younger than me.”

He and Friedman were overwhelmed at the honor guards from every branch of the military and the Boy Scouts who greeted them at the airports in Phoenix, Chicago and Washington.

“Everything is so organized. The average person has no idea what it takes to organize something like this. Everyone was saluting; there were ‘welcome’ signs. One man on the plane who was from India asked me to sign his boarding pass, a woman gave up her first-class seat for me,” Wedhorn said.

Friedman said they were the first on the plane and the first off.

“They changed a gate in Chicago to make it more convenient for my uncle. And it was all the more meaningful because we were there on D-Day,” she added.

While in Washington, Wedhorn observed the changing of the guard at Arlington National Cemetery from a reserved location, and saw the Iwo Jima and Korean War memorials.

Wedhorn’s war-time years

Born in Germany, Wedhorn left on his own at age 15 and came to New York City where he spent most of his life before moving to Tucson to be closer to family.

Inducted into the Army at age 29, at 32 he was serving in the 237th Engineer Combat Battalion when he was sent to the coast of France to take part in D-Day, the largest sea-to-land invasion in history.

“I was sent to Omaha Beach and Utah Beach. We took out some mines and built others. We built bridges. We blew a hole in the sea wall so allied troops could move in. I was in all the major battles,” he said.

Wedhorn’s battalion had more than 100 dead and wounded. He remembers some gory incidents with great clarity.

“There was one young boy who came at me and said, ‘Freddie, am I hit?’ I could see a hole right through his chest. By the time the medics arrived he was gone.”

For his outstanding service and bravery Wedhorn received a medal from the French Legion of Honor and a Presidential Citation from President Franklin Roosevelt.

An American Legion cap that traveled with him on the Honor Flight is filled with miniatures of the various medals he won.

Wedhorn said he may not have gone on the trip if it weren’t for Friedman’s persistence.

“My niece is very determined. She got in touch. That Honor Flight is something.”

Friedman described the visit as “a most surreal experience.”

Honor Flight is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization. The trip is free to World War II veterans of advancing age and terminally-ill veterans who have never seen the memorial. Donations are tax deductible.

Honor Flight Northern Arizona is working to raise funds to send those who have applied before time runs out. Donations may be sent to Honor Flight Northern Arizona, Box 12258, Prescott, AZ 86304, or contact Susan Howe at info@honorflightaz.org.

Ellen Sussman is a freelance writer in Green Valley. Contact her at ellen2414@cox.net.

Honor Flight

There are between 2 million and 2.5 million WWII veterans living in the U.S. The youngest are in their early 80s.

Honor Flight was founded in 2005 by Earl Morse, a year after the memorial opened. It has 73 chapters in 35 states and has flown more than 20,000 veterans to Washington, D.C.

The group receives no federal funding; it exists by donations and airlines who sponsor flights.

World War II Memorial

The memorial honors 16 million people who served in the Armed Forces. Each of 4,048 gold stars on the Freedom Wall represents 100 Americans who died in the war.

The idea for the memorial came about in 1987, when WWII veteran Roger Durbin approached Ohio Rep. Marcy Kaptur. Her legislative efforts didn’t succeed until her fourth attempt, in 1993. President Clinton signed the bill into law May 25.

Nearly 59 years after the end of WWII, the memorial opened on April 29, 2004, was dedicated on May 29, and became part of the National Park System on Nov. 1, 2004. The National Park Service maintains the memorial and oversees visits by Honor Flight veterans.

The 7.4-acre memorial site is on the National Mall between Constitution and Independence avenues and is flanked by the Washington Monument to the east and the Lincoln Memorial to the west.