Seven area men say the best part about taking Honor Flight to Washington, D.C., was being treated like “royalty” or “rock stars.”

Honor Flight, a program sponsored by The Huntsville Times and WAFF Channel 48, began in 2007 flying World War II veterans to Washington free of charge on chartered airliners to visit the National World War II Memorial.

The seven took the eighth flight on Aug. 29. The ninth scheduled flight is Oct. 24.

The World War II Memorial, dedicated in 2004, honors the 16 million who served in the armed forces of the U.S., the more than 400,000 who died, and all who supported the war effort from home.

Richard Beck

Navy

“Leaving Huntsville and coming back to Huntsville, the best parts,” said Richard Beck, 85, a Navy veteran. “These are just wonderful people. They came out at 4 a.m. to see us off and they were back at 9:30 p.m. to welcome us back.

“I was just overwhelmed, I mean I was all choked up. I felt like a rock star coming home.”

Honor Flight passengers are treated to a ceremony and music from a band before embarking on the daylong excursion. Friends and family see them off and come back in even greater numbers to line the concourse as the honorees deplane. They are met with hugs, kisses, handshakes and a heartfelt “thank-you” for their service to their nation nearly 70 years ago.

Beck said he never made it overseas, but was aboard a minesweeper on this side.

“I’m just so glad all of these veterans are getting to go up there and see the memorial,” he said.

Lewie Brooks

Army