'Honor Flights' continue their annual tour to Washington D.C.
MEDFORD — Honor Flights takes another set of veterans to Washington D.C. to receive flowers and just how impactful their service was to the country.
“You know I try to act like a tough guy but boy, they had to make me tear up and cry and the best thing is seeing the young people,” said Carlo Pelaccio, Korean War Veteran.
The Young Marines program was also present to honor the heroes that came before them. Old Guards were also present to greet their fellow members back home.
This trip was a total of 26 Vietnam veterans and one Korean War veteran. Pelaccio also stated all the information he learned from his fellow vets while they were on the Washington tour.
“Go somewhere and just start shooting people that you don’t even know, just because you were sent over there I just can’t imagine the feeling they had, I haven’t had to shoot anybody thank the Lord,” Pelaccio said.
According to Pelaccio, this was his fourth time in Washington D.C. but never got an experience like this one.
“Being at 86 years old and still having a lot of pep in my step and to give back for what was given to you,” Pelaccio said. “To wake up in the morning with a smile and thank the Lord for another day.”
Many people are honored to see and speak to the veterans at the museum when they get there.
“I turned around and one of the guys just burned a hole in me, his eyes were just piercing when he realized I was a part of that war, but just to know what a lot of my comrades went through when they had to go through the Chosin Reservoir was hard to look at,” Pelaccio said.
