• Article Photo. Bert Eisenhour II & Bert III take photos of a passing helicopter while touring the Korea Memorial.
    Bert Eisenhour II & Bert III take photos of a passing helicopter while touring the Korea Memorial.
  • Article Photo. WWII veteran John Brown poses in front of the Air Force memorial statues.
    WWII veteran John Brown poses in front of the Air Force memorial statues.
  • Article Photo. Honor Flight participants visit the Air Force Memorial Tuesday.
    Honor Flight participants visit the Air Force Memorial Tuesday.
  • Article Photo. WWII vet Dean Burgemeister reads thank-you notes from a class of students taught by a family member.
    WWII vet Dean Burgemeister reads thank-you notes from a class of students taught by a family member.
  • Article Photo. The view of DC from the edge of the Air Force Memorial, one of the newer DC landmarks.
    The view of DC from the edge of the Air Force Memorial, one of the newer DC landmarks.
  • Article Photo. The rising sun shines over the veterans as they begin their Honor Flight in Cedar Rapids.
    The rising sun shines over the veterans as they begin their Honor Flight in Cedar Rapids.
  • Article Photo. Andrew Andrews and son Jack at the WWII Memorial.
    Andrew Andrews and son Jack at the WWII Memorial.
  • Article Photo. Vet James Dyer receives a hug from a Ground Crew member upon arriving in DC.
    Vet James Dyer receives a hug from a Ground Crew member upon arriving in DC.
  • Article Photo. Vets and their guardians take photos at the Changing of the Guard ceremony at Arlington.
    Vets and their guardians take photos at the Changing of the Guard ceremony at Arlington.
  • Article Photo.
  • Article Photo. Carol Powell, a Coast Guard vet, saw the WWII Memorial with Nancy Sadler.
    Carol Powell, a Coast Guard vet, saw the WWII Memorial with Nancy Sadler.
  • Article Photo. Cliff Baker of Vinton posed with several students during his trip.
    Cliff Baker of Vinton posed with several students during his trip.
  • Article Photo. Vet James Johnson of Iowa City gestures toward Ford's Theatre, where Lincoln was assassinated.
    Vet James Johnson of Iowa City gestures toward Ford's Theatre, where Lincoln was assassinated.
  • Article Photo. Andrew Andrews and his reflection at the Korean War Memorial.
    Andrew Andrews and his reflection at the Korean War Memorial.
  • Article Photo.
  • Article Photo. A Cape Cod girl, recovering from a softball injury, shakes hands with Iowa vets from her wheelchair.
    A Cape Cod girl, recovering from a softball injury, shakes hands with Iowa vets from her wheelchair.
  • Article Photo. Veterans visited the Iwo Jima Memorial, inspired by the WWII photograph.
    Veterans visited the Iwo Jima Memorial, inspired by the WWII photograph.
  • Article Photo. A Scout leader greets Shellsburg veteran William Rowden of Shellsburg at the airport.
    A Scout leader greets Shellsburg veteran William Rowden of Shellsburg at the airport.
  • Article Photo. The Sippy family awaits the return of World War II veterans Ken and Kathleen.
    The Sippy family awaits the return of World War II veterans Ken and Kathleen.
  • Article Photo. Vet and retired educator Robert Gideon looks for names of his former students on the Vietnam Wall.
    Vet and retired educator Robert Gideon looks for names of his former students on the Vietnam Wall.
  • Article Photo. An Iowa WWII veteran looks at the statues representing US troops who served in Korea.
    An Iowa WWII veteran looks at the statues representing US troops who served in Korea.
  • Article Photo. Many students spoke to the veterans, thanking them for serving and asking about their experiences.
    Many students spoke to the veterans, thanking them for serving and asking about their experiences.
  • Article Photo. Honor Flight veterans posed for many photos at the WWII Memorial.
    Honor Flight veterans posed for many photos at the WWII Memorial.
  • Article Photo. Hundreds of veterans and others welcomed home the Honor Flight participants in Cedar Rapids.
    Hundreds of veterans and others welcomed home the Honor Flight participants in Cedar Rapids.
  • Article Photo. Vet Keith Hyde met his sister Julia Ardoin at the WWII Memorial.
    Vet Keith Hyde met his sister Julia Ardoin at the WWII Memorial.
  • Article Photo. Charles Reik receives a hug from DC Ground Crew volunteer Teri Hopkins.
    Charles Reik receives a hug from DC Ground Crew volunteer Teri Hopkins.
  • Article Photo. Andrew Andrews and son Jack at the WWII Memorial.
    Andrew Andrews and son Jack at the WWII Memorial.
  • Article Photo. Robert Stopko, an Air Force veteran, looks around at the Air Force Memorial.
    Robert Stopko, an Air Force veteran, looks around at the Air Force Memorial.

"What a perfect day it was and very emotional also. The skies were picture perfect."

That is how Bert Eisenhour III described his day in Washington, D.C. with his father, Bert Eisenhour, Jr., as part of the recent Eastern Iowa Honor Flight.

The elder Eisenhour, a WWII veteran from Iowa City, spent the day with his son, who lives in the Chicago area.

Veterans from all over Iowa, including three from Vinton (Norm Walker, Cliff Baker and Bill Fuchs), were accompanied by friends or relatives from several states during the June 5 event. 

Each veteran and his traveling companion (called Guardians by the Honor Flight organization) came back with cameras full of photos.

" I took over 500 digital pics, my dad almost 225, plus the two Kodak cameras from HyVee," said Eisenhour.

Each person on the trip received a free disposable camera courtesy of Hy-Vee, although many others brought their own personal cameras. 

They returned with photos of many of the major war memorials in DC, along with other pictures to help them remember where they went, what they saw and who they met that day. 

Many veterans met family members who live in the DC area. Siblings, grandchildren and other relatives greeted them at the WWII Memorial. Many school-age children asked the veterans to pose with them for a photo. 

The veterans also found two of the more familiar names associated with World War II: Kilroy and Audie Murphy. Murphy was a Medal of Honor recipient who went on to be an actor in many movies, including the biography of his life, "To Hell and Back." Murphy's grave, near where the veterans parked to walk to the Tomb of the Unknown soldier, has more visitors than any other at Arlington National Cemetery besides JFK's tomb.

Kirby refers to the fictional character that U.S. soldiers loved to see. "Kirby was here" was written in countless places where U.S. troops served. In a quiet corner of the World War II Memorial, Kirby's name and familiar face are etched in the brick. Many Iowa veterans found that and posed for photos there.

There were somber moments, too. Robert Gideon, a long time teacher and principal at Winterset, spent some time at the Vietnam Wall, finding the names of former students who later died in that war. He returned to Iowa with etchings of some of those names.