July 10, 2013

Manchin Welcomes Veterans From Pine Lodge Nursing Home to Washington on Special Honor Flight

Senator Manchin meets four terminally ill veterans at the Lincoln Monument to honor their service

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) proudly welcomed four veterans from Beckley’s Pine Lodge Nursing Home to the nation’s capital to travel to the memorials that were built in their honor. The veterans’ dying wishes were to see their memorials, and today they visited the World War II Memorial, Korean Memorial and Vietnam Memorial free of cost.

“These four men served our country with distinction and valor, and I cannot stress what an honor and a privilege it is to welcome these brave veterans at their memorials,” Senator Manchin said. “Showing our appreciation to the men and women who have served this nation is something we should do each and every day. But today is truly a special day to be able to spend time with four veterans who are so patriotic that their dying wish is to visit our nation’s capital and the monuments built to commemorate their service. It is my distinct honor to spend some time with these devoted vets and pay tribute to the men and women who have served our great nation.”

The Honor Flight Network is a nationwide effort to ensure veterans have the opportunity to visit Washington, D.C. to see the monuments that were built to honor their service. 

The “Always Free Honor Flight” was established in West Virginia thanks to the Denver Foundation and Little Buddy Radio, located in Princeton. These nonprofit organizations were founded by Bob Denver – who played Gilligan on “Gilligan’s Island” – and his wife Dreama, a West Virginia native.

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