As a group of veterans who traveled hundreds of miles gathered at the barricade surrounding the World War II Memorial Tuesday morning, congressmen moved the barrier and let these members of the Greatest Generation through to see their monument,
The 92 vets, some in wheelchairs, are visiting from Mississippi courtesy of the Honor Flight Network, which helps vets realize their dream of traveling to D.C. to visit the memorial.
“They served us,” said Rep. Steven Palazzo (R-Miss.), adding that this is the only chance most of them will have to see it.
Others joined them at the memorial after the barricade was moved, and police are not stopping them,
Honor Flights are planned almost every day, according to Carol Johnson of the National Park Service. As of 12:30 p.m., the Park Service was still deciding how to handle other visits from veterans today and in the days ahead.
Barricades were placed at the National Mall as the government shutdown took effect Tuesday.
