Last weekend an excited group of smiling World War 2 veterans from Southwest Minnesota hopped aboard an "Honor Flight" headed for our nation's capital . The big airplane loaded with "Heroes" departed from Sioux Falls early Friday April 29th and landed at the Baltimore airport around 11 am. For the next two days the veterans were given tours of several military service monuments in Washington DC. Throughout the day they were all given the well deserved heroes reception that they had earned through their dedicated service to our country during the war years of 1941-1945. As the veterans lingered around the WW 2 memorial many young school children greeted the them with big smiles, handshakes and hand made thank you cards. "Thanks for keeping us free" was one received by Verdi Gilbertson.The Montevideo neighborhood of North fifth street, fourth street and sixth street was well represented.
Three of the vets, Verdi Gilbertson, Conrad Stai and Stan Folkestad live within a block of each other and George Stai is just around the corner on 4th, Milt Hoidahl is on north sixth while John Handeen lives in the country in the former house of Verdi Gilbertson's maternal grandmother.
Verdi was joined by his sons, Keith, Greg and his grandsons Eric and Matthew. Conrad's son Jerry escorted him and George's son Doug escorted him on the trip. Stan's son in law Gary Heikes traveled along with him.
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