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SENTIMENTAL JOURNEY: World War II veterans are headed to Washington to dedicate a memorial to their sacrifices
By SHAWN ANKROM, News-Sun Staff Writer
A humble yearning is pulling hundreds of thousands of World War II veterans to the nation's capital, a longing spurred by the fact most of their fellow patriots died before seeing the memorial honoring their fight against tyranny.
Their country called upon them more than a half century ago to help beat back a worldwide threat to freedom.
Now old and in the twilight of their lives, these men and women gave their youth to fight a war, a sacrifice not officially memorialized until now.
This Memorial Day weekend, the survivors of history will attend the dedication of the National World War II Memorial Saturday in Washington, D.C.
"The rate the veterans have died in the last few years just us old guys will be able to go up there," said Marvin Horton, 82, who left the U.S. Navy in 1947 after six years of service. "It's been a long time coming."
More than 400,000 U.S. soldiers died during the war. Now WWII veterans are dying at the rate of about 1,800 a day, according to the Department of Veterans Affairs.
Official celebrations will span four days in Washington beginning Thursday and continuing through Sunday, according to www.wwiimemorial.com.
The History Channel and C-SPAN have each agreed to carry the two-hour dedication ceremony "live" starting at 2 p.m. on Saturday.
Amen!