"Every day is a bonus": Veteran's Day November 2009 in DC.

On Saturday November 7, 2009 Reason.tv's Dan Hayes caught up with the Stars and Stripes Honor Flight from Wisconsin. Honor Flight is an organization that provides World War II vets and terminally ill patients from other conflicts free travel to Washington, D.C. to tour memorials.

Hayes talks with veterans who recognize that this is not only their first visit to the World War II monument, but may well be their last trip away from home. "Every day is a bonus," is the motto of Honor Flight and it's a sentiment that rings true for the men who fought and those of us who continue to benefit from their service and sacrifice.

For more information about Honor Flight: http://www.starsandstripeshonorflight.org/SSHF/Welcome.html

Thanks to Joe Dean, Jane Dean, Mark Grams, Liane Baranek, The Gebauers, Cindy and Dave Haupt, Nancy and Steve Hayes, and all the guardians and the vets we spoke with Saturday.

Shot and edited by Dan Hayes. www.twitter.com/dan_hayes

Music by Josh Christiansen.
http://www.myspace.com/joshchristiansenmusic

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• honor flight
• veterans day
• world war II memorial
• WWII
• honor flight wisconsin
• stars and stripes
• reason.tv
• reasontv
• reason
• magazine
• veterans day 2009
• milwaukee
• bob dole

[bundlesjr]

Brought me to tears. Going to Iraq in January. Thankful for those that fought.

[mimihogan31]

What a moving video - Visiting that memorial was one of the most moving experiences of my life. I am so thankful for the Greatest Generation. My only regret is that both of my grandfathers (Army/Navy) will never see it. THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU

[voiceforveterans]

Seeing them smiling and so happy with their lives is very rewarding and a bonus. The cherry on top is giving them the treatment they deserve. It is such a remarkable reward.

[froadrashracing]

My dad entered WWII on D-Day at Omaha Beach,he was in the

78th Lighting Division.He was in the Battle of the Bulge and the

Ardennes,he went back to Europe in the 80s to see a memorial

of Fallen Soliders of WWII, I'm sure it brought tears to his eyes.

He recieved 3 Purple Hearts,Silver Star,Bronze Star and others,

he would have wanted to see the memorial in DC but he died in

96.I find it hard to compare my self to the sacrifice my DAD and

other Brave Men and Women gave for Freedom of others.

[felpaluche]

It's true. Not only to veterans, but to all of us.

[SemperFidelis2016]

Simply beautiful. These men do not get enough thanks for what they did for our country and our world. I start NROTC in just over a year. Can't wait to serve alongside men such as these. Semper Fi.

[roadrcr81082]

@bundlesjr we had the opportunity to thankfully take my grandfather to the wwii memorial before he passed away. he was a POW during the war. It felt so great to be able to bring him there. Since his service my father was in itaq during desert storm and i also served in the army during iraqi freedom. Be safe when your over there and we all hope you come home safe to your family as well.

[VIKING33NY]

Hey, I cried............smoking!!

[Pentazoid111]

Instead, it is there place to be obedient automatons and blindly carry out the orders given to them , regardless if those order promote or advanced liberty or not . Regardless if members of the military violate the property rights of other people and you yourself would regard such actions criminal , if you were placed in another context. They don't protect my freedom, they protect the status quo. If they protected freedom, I and every other resident of the US should possess absolute liberty.

[Mimi1347]

It is not the soldiers place to debate policy, or determine whether or not the president is right or wrong. Our place is fighting for the freedoms that the USA has, and to protect our way of life. I don't agree with your opinion but I will fight to the death to protect your right to say it.

[Holden599GTB]

@Izkzmach But if we could get a percentage on that success it would definatly have to be around 80 to 99%.