WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Tom Udall today joined a group of more than 100 veterans from southern New Mexico at the national World War II Memorial in Washington, D.C., to welcome them as they visited the memorial built in their honor, most for the first time. Click here to view photos of the visit.
The group of World War II, Vietnam and Korean war veterans traveled in matching New Mexico yellow jackets as part of a trip organized by a national organization to bring veterans to see their memorials at no cost to them.
“We all know World War II was about freedom and I want to thank you all for your service. You are my heroes and have been my heroes my whole life. I am proud to be here with you today,” Udall told the group.
This is the second time the New Mexico Honor Flight Network has made the trip to visit the memorial. They arrived from a flight out of El Paso, Texas, this afternoon and will fly back to New Mexico this evening. The veterans were from towns including Las Cruces, Deming and Lordsburg, among others.
In 1998, then-Congressman Udall voted to appropriate funds to build a memorial dedicated to World War II veterans; a vote he said he was proud to make.
