Honor Flight honors veterans with all-expenses-paid trip to Washington DC

LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- Honor Flight sent nearly 70 veterans on an emotional, all-expenses-paid trip to Washington D.C. to visit the memorials dedicated to their service and sacrifices.

Sixty-six World War II veterans and one Vietnam War veteran took off from Los Angeles International Airport Friday morning.

"I've never been east of the Mississippi in all my life. I've been to every state west of the Mississippi but never been east," World War II veteran Herb Wurth said.

Upon landing, the veterans and volunteers will visit several monuments and memorials in the U.S. Capitol, including the Arlington National Cemetery and the National Museum of the U.S. Navy.

"Most of these folks have never had the opportunity or the means to get back there," Honor Flight organizer Craig Van Dorn said. "These men and women are walking history lessons. We want to get a chance to take them back there and let them enjoy the memorials, enjoy everything that they worked for and suffered for back during the wars."

This is the second Honor Flight organized out of LAX this year.

The veterans are set to return to Los Angeles on Sunday.