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FARMINGTON — There's an urgent mission underway, focused on American military veterans who served in World War II. They've been dubbed "The Greatest Generation," but their numbers are fading fast.
The nonprofit organization Honor Flight works to honor these veterans one last time by paying for them to travel to the District of Columbia to visit war memorials. Families in Utah had a chance Wednesday to see a documentary about the project.
The documentary itself, titled “Honor Flight,” follows several veterans from a small Midwestern town. Leaders in their community stepped up to raise money to send hundreds of them to Washington, D.C.
"It's important that they know that they are not forgotten and they are recognized for the sacrifices they made for us,” said Candice Backus of Utah Honor Flight.
One of Utah’s World War II veterans, DeLamar Palmer, was on hand for the showing of the documentary at the Cinemark Theater at Farmington Station. He received a standing ovation as he walked into the theater.
Palmer served as a gunnery instructor in the Air Force. Nearly 94 years old now, he’s eager to see the World War II Memorial, Arlington National Cemetery and other memorials and has filled out an application with Honor Flight.
"It's something I've never seen and something I've always thought I would like to do,” he said. “It’s part of the good old USA.”
According to the National World War II Museum, 16 million Americans served in World War II. Slightly more than 1 million of those veterans are still alive, 8,000 of them in Utah. But it's estimated that 555 World War II vets die each day, so there is growing interest for final honors for these veterans.
Palmer’s daughter, Sally McWain, hopes to see her dad’s dream of visiting the World War II Memorial come true.
"He should, if he's able, have that experience as well,” McWain said. “What a wonderful experience it would be for me to be able to share that with him."
For information on how to apply for an Honor Flight or donate to the cause, visit www.utahhonorflight.org.
