Cover Story: Honor Flight Chicago

It's been said World War II was the defining event of the 20th century. But, the generation of Americans who fought and won that war is vanishing. Most World War two veterans have passed away. And of those still with us, few have seen the five year old national memorial in Washington, D.C. that honors their service. WGN'S Steve Sanders is here with the story of people trying to change that.

There's a massive volunteer effort happening in this country to provide every veteran who fought in World War II, an opportunity to travel to D.C. to see the memorial... for free. We were privileged recently to join "Honor Flight Chicago" for a trip to the nation's capitol.

Flight Attendant announcing: "We'd like to welcome you to our nation's capitol. "

They arrive in DC to the first of the day's surprises, 1940's music and cheering crowds.

The feet that marched a thousand miles thru the battle scarred fields of Europe, and splashed onto the bullet-riddled beaches of Normandy and the South Pacific, are making one final military campaign.

"Welcome to Washington sir. Happy to have you here sir."

Honor flight volunteers spread the word at Dulles, heroes arriving in the Southwest Airlines terminal. Grateful strangers, greeting veterans again on the march.

"My name is Nicholas Zaglifa and I served in the Battle of the Bulge."

With a steady rain, strong wind, and temperatures in the 30's, it was a downright miserable day for viewing the memorial. Not one veteran complained. Certainly not Nick Zaglifa who'd endured far worse in one of World War II's most brutal encounters.

"We were given orders to dig in. But, the ground was frozen and I had a carbine and that was frozen," says Zaglifa.

It was the battle of Bastogne, four days before Christmas, 1944. Zaglifa's company was surrounded by an overwhelming German panzer division.

"I just laid in the snow, I don't know for how many hours. When I got up, everybody was gone except for the ones that were dead. Steve Sanders asks Nick, "How many did you lose?" "I would say out of my company, I came home with 50 out of 150."

The monument helps Zaglifa cope with the painful memories he has carried every day of his adult life.

"I think it's the most beautiful thing that I've seen, to build this thing for us soldiers. I think the organization that put this thing it's just unbelievable, the volunteers, (Zaglifa starts to cry) and so many wonderful people."

The people of "Honor Flight Chicago."

There is an urgency to get as many World War II vets to this site as possible. They are dying at a rate of one thousand a day. In fact, less than ten percent of those who served in the war are still alive. Jeanmarie Kapp is the Founder and President of Honor Flight Chicago.

"It's a very short window of 3 to 5 years to get all of our WWII vets to Washington. Our oldest vet that's flown with us was 98, the youngest is 80 but some of the guys at 80 or 82 are so frail that time is marching on."

(a bugler plays Taps)

Old soldiers and sailors gather in the cold rain to remember their service, and those they left behind. Norman lasman was a young seaman aboard the USS Bunker Hill when it was struck by Japanese kamikaze in May, 1945.