Oklahoma Veterans Honored At Dinner Before Trip To Washington

Some of Oklahoma's own were honored for their service Tuesday, before a whirlwind trip to Washington, D.C.

People gathered to send the 86 veterans off in patriotic style at a ceremony in Bixby. They'll leave before sunrise Wednesday, on a one-day trip to see all the D.C. veterans' memorials.

World War II vet Winifred Dudley was part of an honor flight in 2010. It was so meaningful, she said she started recruiting other veterans to go.

"A few of them have said 'No, I can't go.' I followed one out to the car the other day, pushing his wheel chair. After he got in his car, he told his son, 'I think that little gal wants me to go. I think I'll go. And he came," Dudley said.

Dudley said, when you ask most honor flight participants what their favorite part was, 90 percent say the send-off and welcome home.

9/25/2012 Related Story: Honor Flight Takes Oklahoma WWII Veterans To National Memorial