"Dennis Lee was one of them," said Andreoli. But when you get down to your core inside, it's all you've got that lasts."ĭale Andreoli went to the Vietnam Wall to honor one of three friends he signed up with. "I call it a realization of values, and it wasn't the degree and the money and the real estate and all that kind of stuff," he said. "You know what I realized in Vietnam? I realized what's important in life," said Atkinson.įamily, friends and service rose to the top of those priorities. The war changed his direction in life: He served 30 years in the Air Force, retiring as a colonel. "It's a difficult situation because all of these memories come flying back to you," he said. Visiting the memorial stirred deep emotions for the veteran. "Somebody came to me and asked whether that was Lynn Powell, and I had to say yeah it was."Ītkinson believes that was a propaganda ploy.
"He went down in a 105 over North Vietnam, and then, for some reason, the bad guys took him and put him on the wing of his airplane and took a picture and published it in a Russian magazine," Atkinson said. They served in ROTC together at Brigham Young University. Atkinson went to the Vietnam War Memorial looking for the name of one of his friends, Lynn K. But their numbers are dwindling, so Utah Honor Flight is a great opportunity to include those who fought in the Korean War and the Vietnam War.ĭavid E. The first Honor Flight, 10 years ago, was made up entirely of World War II veterans. It's world-changing for me," said Rueben. "He says I need to go and pay my respects to all of the brothers that didn't come back."īoth men prayed for those killed in battle at the World War II Memorial and the Vietnam Wall.
"This year, he said, 'I think this is it,'" said the son. Julian Lovato had wanted to be on the trip for four years, but had health problems. Even though he was combat wounded, he's glad to be here." "Both of us, different wars, you know," Rueben Lovato said. Julian fought in World War II and his son, Rueben, was a Vietnam-era veteran. There are few sites on the Utah Honor Flight more impressive than the changing of the guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery. Just a chance of quite a reunion in Washington, D.C.," said Sunderland.ĭuring the last decade, Utah Honor Flight has served 2,300 veterans, on 42 flights, and they pack a lot of valuable memories into a two-day trip. They will always remember this trip and plan to keep in touch. "I found out this morning that it was definitely the Dwayne Story that I knew," said his friend. "The guy in charge of my bus came and says, were you the best man at a wedding in '69? I said yes," Story said. So, leaders with the Utah Honor Flight decided to find out. They lost touch after the wedding, and had not spoken to each other for more than 50 years until Sunderland heard Story's name during mail call on the Honor Flight headed for Washington. "We just enjoyed each other, and both from Utah," Sunderland said. His best man was Dwayne Story, also a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, whom he met in basic training at Fort Lewis, Washington. Douglas Sunderland got married before he headed off to battle in December 1969. Two Vietnam War vets had an especially exciting trip. & Gail Miller Family Foundation, honored veterans from World War II, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, the Cold War, and the Gulf War. But he keeps the memories of fallen friends alive in his heart. He'd like to forget that chapter in life. "People were protesting and they didn't think too much of you." "The Korean War, when we came home, was a lot like the Vietnam War," Evans said. He contemplated the horrors of war and said it made his heart ache to be at the memorial. "Many of the young men I served with who never came home," he said. He went off to the Korean War in 1953, and said the brutal battles helped him sort out life's priorities and understand the value of family and human life itself. In a hurry," Evans said as he looked over the Korean War Memorial. Veterans like Marv Evans of Eden had a chance to reflect upon their service and see the memorials for the first time.
Since it started nearly a decade ago, the Utah Honor Flight has taken 42 flights to Washington. The Utah Honor Flight was a chance for the veterans to visit the memorials dedicated to their service and pay respects to those who didn't come home. WASHINGTON - A group of 75 Utah veterans returned to the Provo Airport Wednesday evening to a huge hero's welcome after a two-day trip to Washington D.C.
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