A Trip Of A Lifetime

George Keltner, an Adair County veteran who served in the U.S. Navy during World War II and in the Korean War also, had visited the World War II Memorial in Washington, D.C. - once for the groundbreaking of the monument and again a few weeks after it was dedicated. But, he had never experienced a trip like he took on Saturday, June 6th - the 65th anniversary of D-Day landing.
Keltner was one of 85 World War II veterans from Kentucky who were selected to be on an Honor Flight-Bluegrass Chapter that left Louisville International Airport early in the morning on June 6th, flew to our nation's capital, then took the veterans to the World War II Memorial and other memorials before returning to Louisville Saturday night. Included in the group of veterans were six who participated in the D-Day landing.
"It was just a tremendous experience," Keltner said. "It was the best organized trip I've ever been on, and to go up there to the (World War II) memorial with so many other veterans was almost indescribable."
The Honor Flight program was established after then President George Bush dedicated the World War II Memorial on May 29, 2004. The Bluegrass Chapter was established in 2008, and made five flights to Washington last year and two so far this year (with seven others scheduled). The trips are provided at no cost whatsoever to the veterans.
The chapter's mission is to "fly World War II veterans from the Bluegrass region to Washington, D.C. to the World War II Memorial dedicated to honor their service and sacrifices."
Keltner said that he learned about the Honor Flights at a meeting of local VFW Post #6097, and sent for an application. A few weeks later, he was notified he had been selected for the June 6th trip.
"I was the only veteran from this area that made the trip," he said. "I did see one man from Elizabethtown, but the majority were from Louisville and Lexington."
Keltner said that the most impressive thing about the trip was the way the aging veterans were treated.
"We were treated like royalty from the time we arrived at the airport in Louisville until we returned," he explained. "There was someone there to help you with anything you might need."
Once the veterans arrived in Washington, they were first taken by bus to the World War II Memorial. They also visited the Korean War Memorial, and the Iwo Jima Memorial at Arlington National Cemetery.
The veterans also had time to visit other monuments and memorials, including the Vietnam Memorial. Keltner said that it was at the Vietnam Wall that he had his most sobering thoughts.
"When we got to the Vietnam Wall, it hit me about what all they were doing for us today, and I realized how we had let the Vietnam veterans down," he said. "I thought about all the hard times they had been put through when they got back home, and here we were being treated like kings."
Keltner said that the trip to Washington with all of his fellow veterans is something he'll always cherish.
"I felt honored to be in the presence of the people there who made the trip," he said. "And, I could not get over the fact that there were so many good people there to help us in any way.
"It's a day I'll always remember, and be grateful that I was able to participate in it," he concluded.
Honor Flight-Bluegrass Chapter will be making seven more flights to Washington this year. While World War II veterans are given preference, flights are also planned for all veterans.
For more information, go to the website www.honorflight bluegrass.org. or call 502-387-6006.
Photo:GEORGE KELTNER stands in front of the World War II Memorial after being selected for an Honor Flight from Louisville to Washington, D.C. that took place on June 6, the 65th anniversary of the D-Day Landing.