Honor Flight, one last mission for local veteran

In honor of Veterans Day, local veteran Frank Randall just returned from an Honor Flight to Washington, D.C. Eyewitness News anchor Todd Kunz talked to him before he left and when he got back.

“Made me feel a lot of gratitude,” said Randall.

Every spring, summer and fall, the Utah Honor Flight organization takes as many veterans and their guardians as they can to experience the many monuments and memorials around our nation’s capital, with special priority given to World War II veterans.

“I think the visit to the World War II Memorial, which is fairly new, was probably the best,” said Randall.

Kunz caught up with Randall just as he packed up and was leaving for the airport. They flew into Baltimore-Washington International Airport for a quick three days and a packed itinerary. They arrived to nothing less than a hero’s welcome.

“There were hundreds and hundreds of people lining the street and every place they took us. And they were cheering for us and shaking our hands. It was great,” said Randall.

They saw countless memorials.

“We went to the Arlington National Cemetery and watched them change the guard,” said Randall.

And many emotional memories were right at the surface.

“Men fought and died, gave their lives willingly so this country would continue to be a great country. And I’m grateful for the ones that gave their lives. I’m grateful for all the veterans,” said Randall.

Randall just turned 90 years old the day after he returned. He reflected on his time in the Philippines and Japan from 1944 to 1946 when he served our country as an Army infantry paratrooper.

“What did this trip mean to you?” asked Kunz.

“Well, it meant that people were grateful for the service that was given by not only the World War II veterans, but the veterans from other wars also, Korean, and Vietnam, and so on. They showed a lot of gratitude on our whole trip,” said Randall.

Approximately every three minutes a memory of World War II disappears with the death of a veteran. The men and women who fought are now mostly in their 90’s. They are dying quickly, at the rate of approximately 492 a day, according to the U.S. Veterans Administration. The current number of living World War II veterans in Idaho is 5,556 and in Wyoming 1,757 according to the same source. Click here for numbers by state.

Click these links for more information on Utah Honor Flight and Honor Flight of Idaho.