Central Valley Honor Flight takes off from Castle Airport
ATWATER, Calif. (KFSN) -- A special ceremony was held Monday to commemorate the first Honor Flight from the North Valley.
The Central Valley's first Honor Flight from the North Valley was full of patriotic spirit and pride. Seventy-two women and men, like Bill Meyer, were a part of this historic flight.
"I'm excited. I've been excited for the last two weeks, but this sets it up even more so. I don't think I can sit down in the plane," said Meyer.
The former paratrooper shared stories of why he signed up to jump out a plane, but the task that's most memorable is when his unit - the 11th Airborne - rescued prisoners of war and freed thousands in an internment camp in the Philippines.
"I was 19 at the time," said Meyer. "It's just get in there, and watch for the enemy, and shoot them if you see the enemy. And your mind is racing; it doesn't race much anymore."
The oldest veteran on this trip was 98-year-old Daniel Child.
"It's hard to believe but that's what they tell me. I won't argue with it," said Child.
The fifth Honor Flight marked a milestone -- taking off from the former Castle Air Force Base, where service members were once trained. Some of those World War II planes actually stand at the museum today.
Each veteran got to bring a guardian to escort them on the trip.
Betty Stevens, a former WAVE, was one of four women on the flight. She came with her daughter.
"Just seeing Washington, D.C.; I've never been there," said Stevens.
As the last veterans boarded the plane and waved goodbye, they knew the trip they were embarking on would be one to remember.
"It's an honor really," said Tommy Barragan of Firebaugh.
America's Greatest Generation now on their final mission.
Central Valley Honor Flight - Video
The public is encouraged to attend the homecoming celebration:
Wednesday, October 29, 2014
Castle Air Museum
5050 Santa Fe Drive
Atwater, CA 95301
The museum will be open with free admission beginning at 3 p.m. in advance of the 5 p.m. program.
