95 Year Old WW II Vet Planning For A Special Trip

Alabama Mobile He and other WW II vets going to Washington DC.

by Steve Alexander

Published: Tue, May 05, 2009 - 9:10 pm CST Last Updated: Tue, May 05, 2009 - 9:46 pm CST

A group of more than ninety World War II veterans from south Alabama are getting ready for the trip of their lives.
The veterans are flying from Mobile to Washington DC Wednesday to visit the World War II Memorial.
And the oldest veteran making the trip has a special reason for going.
Gaywood Steadham entered the Merchant Marines and fought in World War Two at the age of 19.
Steadham said, "Americans have no idea how close we came to losing that war."
Wednesday morning, Steadham and ninety other World War Two veterans will take a free flight to see the World War Two Memorial, thanks to a non-profit organization called "Honor Flight Network."
Steadham said, "I'm excited for, number one, I've lived long enough to make this trip."
He will the oldest veteran on the flight at the age of 95.
Steadham joked, "What makes me feel the best is, I'm not only oldest but, I'm the best looking."
And there's another reason Steadham wants to make this trip: to look for two names on the memorial.
His two brothers also fought in World War II, but they never came home.
When asked what it's going to be like when he sees his brothers' names on the memorial, Steadham said, "It will probably bring tears to my eyes because I am very patriotic and they were the two best friends I've ever had."
Steadham knows that this will be his only chance in life to see the World War Two Memorial, but he said, "If it takes keeping our flag flying over the greatest nation in the world, I'd do it all over again for our country."
Two more more flights are planned by "Honor Flight" in the next coming months.

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