Tuesday morning, 80 World War II veterans from West Central Florida plan to exercise their “First Amendment rights.” They, along with 80 guardians, will take a long-planned “Honor Flight” to visit the Washington D.C. war memorials even though the monuments are closed to the public due to the government shutdown.
Apparently members of congress determined the vets' had a constitutional right to visit the memorials.
Barbara Howard – with the West Central Florida Honor Flights – says none of the veterans canceled their one-day trip despite news reports of the memorials being closed.
"As always we do have cancellations due to their health issues and things which also reinforces that we really can’t delay these things because they might not be with us", Howard said.
The Tampa Bay veterans will get to visit the World War II Memorial and the Korean War Memorial. She’s unsure if they’ll get to tour the Vietnam Memorial Wall or get inside the Lincoln Memorial.
Another West Central Florida Honor Flight is scheduled October 29 from the St. Petersburg-Clearwater Airport and a November 12 flight is set from Lakeland Linder Airport.