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| 11/4/2009 1:08:00 PM | Email this article • Print this article |
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| Pictured (L to R) are World War II veteran Virgil Wise, Joe Wilkey, Honor Flight guardian escort and World War II veteran Steve Paege at the WWII Memorial Oct. 24 in Washington D.C. Photo Provided |
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Local Vets Take Honor Flight To Visit WWII Memorial
Jennifer Peryam
Times-Union Staff Writer
It has been nearly 70 years since World War II and Korean War veteran Steve Paege and WWII veteran Virgil Wise served in that war.
Although the years have passed, the veterans never forgot their experiences in serving their country.
Paege, 91, and Wise, 87, both Miller's Assisted Living residents from Warsaw, participated in a chartered Honor Flight Oct. 24 to Washington, DC, with 25 other WWII veterans.
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The additional WWII veterans were from the Honor Flight's northeastern Indiana chapter. The veterans were from Fort Wayne, Columbia City and South Bend. There also were 22 guardian escorts who cared for the veterans during the flight.
The organization that sponsored the tour and flight is called "Honor Flight."
The organization is a not-for-profit established for the purpose of getting as many WWII veterans as possible to the memorial, according to Joe Wilkey. Wilkey served as a guardian escort for Paege during the trip.
A cardiologist nurse from Bluffton served as a guardian escort for Wise.
Donations the organization received for the trip paid for travel expenses for the WWII veterans, but guardian escorts paid their own way for the trip.
"The purpose of the trip was to honor the WWII veterans who served and I was honored to serve as a guardian escort," Wilkey said.
Wilkey's wife Lynn, who serves as a social director at Miller's Assisted Living, found out about the Honor Flight organization. She obtained applications for Paege and Wise to fill out to participate in the trip.
They were driven from Warsaw to Fort Wayne International Airport to meet with the other WWII veterans to take the flight to Washington D.C.
Once they arrived in Washington D.C., the veterans rode on a bus to historic sites.
While in Washington D.C., the veterans visited the WWII memorial, Arlington National Cemetery and the Korean War Memorial.
The WWII memorial honors 16 million veterans who served in the U.S. Armed forces, the more than 400,000 who died and all who supported the war effort from home.
During the trip, the veterans received a WWII veteran hat and t-shirt, a WWII memorial booklet and a certificate for participating in the trip.
Paege and Wise said they had the opportunity to meet Senator Bob Dole and his wife Elizabeth and had their picture taken with them.
Paege said it was his first time for riding on a plane and he said he enjoyed the 1-1/2 hour plane ride to Washington D.C.
Paege said he was delighted to see the WWII memorial and never dreamed he would see it.
"I had seen the memorial on television, but never thought I would see it in person and if I ever have a chance to go back I would," Paege said.
Paege enlisted in the Army in May 1942 at the age of 22 and served until 1952. He was an infantryman during the Battle of the Bulge and was part of the Army of Occupation. After attending ordinance school, he returned to Germany in 1945 and guarded German prisoners.
Paege lost his hearing completely in his left ear when a bomb went off in Germany and ruptured his left.
Paege also served in the Korean War and received four battle stars.
Wise said he also was impressed with the WWII memorial.
"I had always wanted to go see the memorial and it brought back memories of World War II and it was fun meeting the other veterans that went on the trip," Wise said.
Wise was drafted into the Army in 1942 at age 20 and was a forward observer looking for the enemy from church steeples. He also drove military vehicles. He served in the Army until 1946.
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