Honor Flight of Idaho director Lance Stephensen is flanked by Mike Stallcup, left, and medical coordinator Ron Andersen at the National World War II Memorial in Washington, D.C., September 3, 2014. (Joe Gromelski/Stars and Stripes)
Honor Flight of Idaho director Lance Stephensen is flanked by Mike Stallcup, left, and medical coordinator Ron Andersen at the National World War II Memorial in Washington, D.C., September 3, 2014. (Joe Gromelski/Stars and Stripes)
Guardians accompanying veterans on the Honor Flight of Idaho take photos of the group at the National World War II Memorial in Washington, D.C., September 3, 2014. (Joe Gromelski/Stars and Stripes)
Veterans taking part in the Honor Flight of Idaho trip to Washington, D.C.pose for a photo at the National World War II Memorial, September 3, 2014. (Joe Gromelski/Stars and Stripes)
World War II veterans George Neumayer, left, and Len Mallea at the National World War II Memorial in Washington, D.C., September 3, 2014. (Joe Gromelski/Stars and Stripes)
Honor Flight of Idaho at the National World War II Memorial in Washington, D.C., September 3, 2014. (Joe Gromelski/Stars and Stripes)
Honor Flight of Idaho at the National World War II Memorial in Washington, D.C., September 3, 2014. (Joe Gromelski/Stars and Stripes)
World War II veteran and Honor Flight of Idaho participant Bud Kelly of Boise at the National World War II Memorial in Washington, D.C., September 3, 2014. (Joe Gromelski/Stars and Stripes)
Honor Flight of Idaho at the National World War II Memorial in Washington, D.C., September 3, 2014. (Joe Gromelski/Stars and Stripes)
World War II veteran Jim Bowen of Boise, Idaho, at the National World War II Memorial in Washington, D.C., September 3, 2014. (Joe Gromelski/Stars and Stripes)
Honor Flight of Idaho at the National World War II Memorial in Washington, D.C., September 3, 2014. (Joe Gromelski/Stars and Stripes)
World War II veteran Bud Kelly takes a photo at the National World War II Memorial in Washington, D.C., September 3, 2014. With him is guardian T.J. Hilbert. (Joe Gromelski/Stars and Stripes)
Honor Flight of Idaho at the National World War II Memorial in Washington, D.C., September 3, 2014. (Joe Gromelski/Stars and Stripes)
Honor Flight of Idaho at the National World War II Memorial in Washington, D.C., September 3, 2014. (Joe Gromelski/Stars and Stripes)
Honor Flight of Idaho at the National World War II Memorial in Washington, D.C., September 3, 2014. (Joe Gromelski/Stars and Stripes)
Honor Flight of Idaho at the National World War II Memorial in Washington, D.C., September 3, 2014. (Joe Gromelski/Stars and Stripes)
Honor Flight of Idaho at the National World War II Memorial in Washington, D.C., September 3, 2014. (Joe Gromelski/Stars and Stripes)
World War II veterans get their first look at the National World War II Memorial in Washington, D.C., thanks to Honor Flight of Idaho on September 3, 2014. (Joe Gromelski/Stars and Stripes)
Honor Flight of Idaho veterans salute during a group photo at the National World War II Memorial in Washington, D.C., September 3, 2014. (Joe Gromelski/Stars and Stripes)
Jack Tomlinson, who flew the P-51 Mustang in the Pacific during World War II, visits the National World War II Memorial as part of the Honor Flight of Idaho program on Sept. 3, 2014. (Joe Gromelski/Stars and Stripes)
WASHINGTON — Add 28 more members of the "Greatest Generation" to the long list of World War II veterans who have visited monuments in the nation's capital through the Honor Flight program.
The veterans, who were joined on the Honor Flight of Idaho trip by 22 guardians, started a long Wednesday in Washington at the National World War II Memorial, which celebrates its 10th anniversary this year. Other events on their schedule included a wreath-laying at Arlington National Cemetery.
For Jim Bowen of Boise, the visit brought back memories of the start of the war that would result in the loss of over 400,000 American lives. "December 7, 1941," he recalled. "I was standing in front of my bookcase with the radio on, and all of a sudden the radio said Pearl Harbor has been attacked. Two years later I was in the Navy, and I spent 20 years there."
After retiring from he Navy, Bowen worked as an engineer at defense contractor General Dynamics.
Bowen called the memorial "absolutely gorgeous. I love the water and I love all the (columns representing the) states, and I love the fact that it's quiet, peaceful ... except for airplanes flying over. A beautiful place."
Jack Tomlinson, who joined the service as an 18-year-old right out of high school, recalled flying the P-51 Mustang aircraft on missions from Iwo Jima to Tokyo and back.
"It was fast," he said of the long-range fighter plane. "It was fun (to fly), but it was hot. It had a bubble canopy, and that sun was on you all the way."
"The thing that scared me most was anti-aircraft. I did get hit over Tokyo Bay. I had a big hole in my wing, but I got back to Iwo Jima.
"It was all new to me. I was young enough that I wanted to fly, and it seemed like a good thing to do."
Tomlinson called he memorial "fantastic. People all seem to stop, and it gives you a good feeling. It's beautiful. Very beautiful. I'd like to meet the guy who dreamed all this up.
"I hope all the (World War II veterans) who are still living can get back here and see this."
Bud Kelly got his chance to see it on Wednesday. As he surveyed the memorial, he said, "Been waiting for this a long while ... a long while."
