WWII veterans storm D.C. memorial closed by government shutdown

WASHINGTON — Wheelchair-bound elderly veterans pushed aside barricades to tour the World War II Memorial Tuesday morning, in defiance of the government shutdown which closed all of the memorials in the nation’s capital.

The four bus loads of veterans — visiting from Mississippi as part of a once-in-a-lifetime Honor Flight tour — ignored National Park Police instructions not to enter the site as lawmakers and tourists cheered them on.

The scene was both emotional and comical at once. After it was clear they had lost control of the situation, Park Police officials stood aside, telling press that they had “asked for guidance on how to respond” to the breach of security.

As 80-something veterans slowly walked around the massive war memorial, Park Police stood quietly to the side, advising other tourists that the site was technically still closed. But they made no moves to stop the wishes of the war heroes.

The memorial was closed because of the government shutdown which started 11 hours earlier, after lawmakers failed to pass a temporary budget plan to keep nonessential federal programs operating. Republicans and Democrats have been stalled in budget fight for weeks, mostly over legislative add-ons dealing with the new healthcare law.

As a result, more than 800,000 federal employees were furloughed Tuesday, set to return only after Congress reaches a compromise. National parks and federal buildings were closed down. And the WWII Memorial — along with the Lincoln Memorial, Washington Monument, and much of the rest of the Capitol — were barricaded, to keep tourists away.

Several Republican lawmakers were on hand to greet the Mississippi Honor Flight veterans at the memorial on Tuesday, and nodded thoughtfully as the greatest generation representatives voiced their displeasure at being turned away from their own memorial.

Organizers said the trip took months of planning and nearly $100,000 in donations for airfare, food and buses. A dozen more are scheduled in the next week.

“It’s great to be here, but it’s really disappointing that we can’t get closer to see it,” said Gene Tolley, a Marine Corps veteran who served in the Pacific during the war. “I came through the city back in high school, but I was looking forward to coming back and seeing this.”

As Rep. Steve King, R-Iowa, distracted a Park Police representative, other lawmakers and their staff helped topple the metal fences. A bagpiper on hand for the event led the men past the crowd and into the heart of the memorial, attracting a large, applauding crowd.

“This just means so much to me,” said Alex “Lou” Pitalo, an Army vet who also served in the Pacific during WWII. “I waited 70 years to get a welcome like this. And to get to see this and to have all those people clapping … I’m just so happy. This was amazing.”

Officials from the Honor Flight network, which organized the tour, said they have advised upcoming trip planners that the memorials will not be open to the public, and to plan accordingly.

Meanwhile, at press time, Park Police said they were still reviewing how to handle similar problems in the future, since they still have no indication when the government shutdown will be resolved.

This was a few days ago and really deserves its own thread. I don’t have time to post that, so here it is - share and share alike...

I was blessed to have the honor of accompanying my father to Washington DC Sept. 17th, 2013 on the West Coast Honor Flight. My official capacity on this trip was as a Guardian for a WW II Veteran. The day started arriving at 0400 (4AM) at the Allegiant Airlines gate at the St. Petersburg - Clearwater International Airport. Greeting everyone was the ground crew from West Coast Honor Flight with handshakes, slaps on the back and a hearty breakfast from McDonalds. Once everyone arrived, there were 80 veterans and 80 guardians plus 20 of the ground crew. We boarded the flight and headed to Baltimore International Airport for the bus ride to Washington DC. Arriving in Baltimore, we got our first glimpse of how the day was going to go. Several uniformed service men and women greeted each vet, welcoming them to Washington and as we headed for the buses the people heading off to work or heading on vacations would stop and clap and yell. “Thank you for your service”. It was a very humbling experience.

We boarded the 3 buses that were needed to transport all of us and the wheel chairs to our first destination - the US Air Force Museum. Once there, we were able to view not just this remarkable museum but we could also see many of the sites surrounding the area. The weather was spectacular as well and that gave us time to learn more about our vets as well as the sites we came to visit. The hosts provided a sack lunch. Then we headed off for the Korean and Vietnam Memorials. There they gave us ample time to wander the large area and visit each memorial and witness the amazing outpouring of gratitude that we encountered with the others who were visiting the parks. Perfect strangers walked up and shook the hands of the hero’s, asking to take a picture with them. You just couldn’t remove yourself from the strong feelings from watching this remarkable event.

You should have seen the faces of the veterans as they looked at the memorials and read the descriptions engraved in the stones surrounding these sacred places. Our next stop was the World War II Memorial. We gathered all the Veterans for a group picture and then escorted these hero’s around to see everything that could be seen. Here again perfect strangers coming up to congratulate these men and women. We even encountered a group of active Army soldiers that were in uniform who quickly gathered these vets together for another picture but with these soldiers standing at attention saluting the hero’s before them. What a site!

Afterwards we boarded the buses for the ride back to Baltimore and our flight home. Once arriving back in Clearwater these men and women discovered what a real “Hero Welcome” is all about.

There were hundreds of people gathered at the airport with flags waving. Large banners welcomed them home. The Star Spangled Banner, Army and Air Force personnel and even a Brigadier General shook each man and woman’s hand and thanked them individually once again for their service. It was a site to behold. Before they departed for their homes they marched by the 4th Degree Knights of Columbus. The Knights saluted them and then were involved in picture taking with the Bomber Girls in front of a huge American flag.

This is a day that will live in the hearts and soul of each man and woman as well as their guardian who went with them on this glorious day.

God Bless.

Wonderful story. Thanks.

Three years ago, I flew with my now 96 year-old father to Wash. DC. to see the WWII Memorial. (and Arlington National Cemetary, among other monuments) He served in the Pacific and later was active during the Berlin airlift. He worked very hard with his time and dollars to see it built. He wept as he used his walker to go through it.

He wept again today, when he watched The Greatest Generation finally gain admittance to the Memorial.

On Thursday, Mr. RR and I are again flying to Wash. D.C. to take our nine year-old grandson to see the Memorial and other sites. I pray that we are able to see them.

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