Birmingham, AL - A band of Alabama soldiers marched together again at the Memorial built for them in Washington.

John Little of Hoover describes it as "just absolutely amazing. I'm honored to see that people care."

Beyond the flowing fountains and below the towering columns that honor soldiers from each state... there is silence. It's a quiet calm of reflection for these World War II veterans who triumphed over global peril.

Edward McDevitt of Homewood remembers "I was with Franklin D over when we went over to Yalta for the meeting."

War stories return these soldiers to their days of glory, but victory came with harrowing sacrifice. For more than six decades these men and women have walked with memories of the fallen who will never see their memorial

Standing at the entrance to the Memorial James Hughes of Tuscaloosa says "I'm overcome. When I was 17 years old after my brother was killed at Pearl Harbor. And the war changed my whole life. Coming back here there are so many sorrowful things about it."

The mission of this trip is to repay a debt with gratitude.

Honor Flight Birmingham flies the vets from Alabama to Baltimore.

For M.G. Smith of Lolly it was his first flight.

The place arrives with a hero's welcome as the veterans make their way to Washington. The World War II Memorial is located along the National Mall. It's positioned between the Washington Monument and the Lincoln Memorial. Two of the many DC sites taken in by the Honor Flight in just one day."

Honor Flight Birmingham pays for everything on this journey that includes the Korean War Memorial, the Marine Corp War Memorial and a bus tour of Washington.

Hughes says, "I never thought I'd be able to see it. I'm going on to 84 and it's a real miracle that I'm able to see it."

Organizer Pam Nichols explains, "We're running out of time to say thank you and offer a fitting honor to those who did so much for us."

Cheers, handshakes and hugs erupt from strangers throughout the day. For some, it's difficult to accept the recognition.

McDevitt says, "I don't know what all the fuss is. We defended our country when it was attacked and that's what you're supposed to do when you're an American."

But on this day, for these soldiers returning home the words thank you go both ways.

One emotional veteran sums it up by saying "They were thanking me and I thank them too."

Honor Air Birmingham covers expenses through donations. So far they've transported more than five hundred World War II Veterans to Washington for the trip. They have a waiting list of more than three hundred veterans still waiting to go.

For more information visit www.honorflightbirmingham.com

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