TMCnet News
Conrad Honors North Dakota WWII VeteransMay 18, 2009 (Congressional Documents and Publications/ContentWorks via COMTEX) -- Washington -- Senator Kent Conrad welcomed 100 World War II veterans visiting the nation's capital today as part of the "Roughrider Honor Flight." The North Dakota initiative is part of the Honor Flight Network, a non-profit program that helps World War II veterans travel to Washington, DC, to visit the National World War II Memorial, the memorial that was constructed in their honor. "I have been honored to play a small part in organizing past WWII Honor Flights. They are really such moving events and serve as fitting tributes to the brave men and women who fought to protect our freedoms and liberties in WWII," Senator Conrad said. "This is a trip of a lifetime and serves as an opportunity for all of us to honor and thank America's Greatest Generation." Veterans from across North Dakota and Minnesota are participating in the Roughrider Honor Flight. Over their two day trip to the nation's capital, the veterans will visit Arlington National Cemetery and tour several of Washington's memorials, culminating in a visit to the World War II Memorial. Open to the public in 2004, the World War II Memorial honors the 16 million people who served in the armed forces of the United States, the more than 400,000 who died, and all who supported the war effort at home. Spanning the length of a football field, the Memorial features waterfalls, fountains, and two 43-foot arches at each end symbolizing the Atlantic and Pacific theaters of the war. The Roughrider trip is the sixth Honor Flight from North Dakota. To date, the Honor Flight has helped close to 1,000 World War II veterans travel from North Dakota to Washington, DC, to visit the National World War II Memorial. #DAL1234# |