Photos: Korean War vets tour Washington, D.C.
460 Korean War veterans from Nebraska traveled to Washington, D.C., Tuesday as part of an Honor Flight.
Korean War Veterans Honor Flight, 03/25/2014
OMAHA, NEB - 03/25/2014 - Korean war veterans unload buses at Eppley Airfield ready to board early morning jets en route to Washington, D.C. on Tuesday, March 25, 2014, in Omaha. Nearly 460 veterans from all over Nebraska participated in this Korean War Honor Flight. KRISTIN STREFF/Lincoln Journal Star
Korean War honor flight
Korean War veterans wait to board their flight in the terminal at Eppley Airfield on Tuesday.
Korean War Veterans Honor Flight
More than 2,000 World War II and Korean War veterans have traveled to Washington, D.C., to tour the nation's war memorials.Â
Korean War Honor Flight
These Korean War veterans are en route to Washingon, D.C., as part of Tuesday's honor flight.
Korean War Veterans Honor Flight, 03/25/2014
WASHINGTON, DC - 03/25/2014 - Korean war veteran Wendel Krueger of Blue Hill, Neb. registers his surprise as he and his comrades are welcomed with applause to Washington, D.C. on Tuesday, March 25, 2014, at Dulles International Airport. KRISTIN STREFF/Lincoln Journal Star
Korean War honor flight
Edward Gnirk of Hoskins and his Korean War comrades were greeted with hugs, signs and applause from Nebraskans at Dulles International Airport on Tuesday.
Korean War vets arrive in D.C.
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Korean war veteran Dean Hilbers of Louisville and his comrades are welcomed to Dulles International Airport by a long line of people honoring their service with signs and applause.
Korean War Honor Flight, 03/25/2014
Korean War veteran Don Klute of Bradshaw takes a moment in remembrance as he walks along the reflecting pool at the Korean War Veterans Memorial in Washington. Klute was one of nearly 460 veterans to take part in Tuesday's honor flight.
Korean War Honor Flight, 03/25/2014
Korean War veteran John Hanlin of Neligh was among nearly 460 veterans from the region to visit the Korean War Veterans Memorial on Tuesday.
Korean War Veterans Honor Flight, 03/25/2014
WASHINGTON, DC - 03/25/2014 - Korean war veterans from Nebraska participating in the Korean War Honor Flight pause to admire the triangular field of stainless steel statues on Tuesday, March 25, 2014, at the Korean War Veterans Memorial. KRISTIN STREFF/Lincoln Journal Star
Korean War Veterans Honor Flight, 03/25/2014
WASHINGTON, DC - 03/25/2014 - A Korean war veteran of Nebraska pauses amid falling snow in remembrance as he considers the engraving "Freedom Is Not Free" on the wall of the Korean War Veterans Memorial on Tuesday, March 25, 2014, on the National Mall. KRISTIN STREFF/Lincoln Journal Star
Korean War Veterans Honor Flight, 03/25/2014
WASHINGTON, DC - 03/25/2014 - The Korean War Veterans Memorial features a reflective wall engraved with images of uniformed servicemen representing all who served, including Wes Kumm and Wayne Blunck, both of Osmond, Neb., who pause a moment in the falling snow to admire the memorial and remember their experiences on Tuesday, March 25, 2014, on the National Mall. KRISTIN STREFF/Lincoln Journal Star
Korean War Veterans Honor Flight
Korean war veteran Francis Reinsch of Geneva walks slowly along the circular reflective pool at the Korean War Veterans Memorial as falling snow blankets the National Mall Tuesday, March 25, 2014, in Washington, D.C.
Korean War Veterans Honor Flight, 03/25/2014
WASHINGTON, DC - 03/25/2014 - Korean war veterans from Nebraska participating in the Korean War Honor Flight are greeted at their memorial on the National Mall by a patrol of 19 stainless steel statues--consisting of 14 soldiers, one sailor, one airman, and three Marines--trudging through the snow on Tuesday, March 25, 2014. KRISTIN STREFF/Lincoln Journal Star
Korean War Memorial
Visitors view the Korean War Memorial during a snow storm in Washington, Tuesday, March 25, 2014.
Korean War Veterans Honor Flight, 03/25/2014
WASHINGTON, DC - 03/25/2014 - Fifty-six granite pillars, each engraved with the names of the states, territories and the District of Columbia, encircle the National World War II Memorial on Tuesday, March 25, 2014, on the National Mall. KRISTIN STREFF/Lincoln Journal Star
Korean War Veterans Honor Flight, 03/25/2014
WASHINGTON, DC - 03/25/2014 - Korean War Honor Flight guardian and respiratory therapist Michelle Paris adjusts a plastic parka around Korean war veteran Jerry DeWispelare of Octavia, Neb. during relentless snowfall on Tuesday, March 25, 2014, at the National World War II Memorial on the National Mall. KRISTIN STREFF/Lincoln Journal Star
Korean War Veterans Honor Flight, 03/25/2014
WASHINGTON, DC - 03/25/2014 - Gold Star mothers Noala Fritz (left) of Verdon, Neb. and Monica Alexander of Gretna, Neb. remember their sons, U.S. Army 1st lieutenant Jacob Fritz and U.S. Army corporal Matthew Alexander, both killed in action during the Iraq War in 2007 on Tuesday, March 25, 2014, at the Freedom Wall in the National World War II Memorial. The Freedom Wall consists of 4,000 sculpted gold stars--the symbol of family sacrifice during the war--each commemorating 100 Americans who gave their lives during the war. KRISTIN STREFF/Lincoln Journal Star
Korean War Veterans Honor Flight
Korean war veterans from Nebraska participating in an Honor Flight in March watch the Changing of the Guard ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknowns at Arlington National Cemetery. The cemetery is marking its 150th year with an evening musical tribute Sunday and a public wreath-laying at the Tomb of the Unknowns Monday.
Korean War Veterans Honor Flight, 03/25/2014
ARLINGTON, VA - 03/25/2014 - Korean war veterans from Nebraska participating in the Honor Flight watch the ceremonious changing of the guard at the tomb of the unknown soldier on Tuesday, March 25, 2014, at Arlington National Cemetery. KRISTIN STREFF/Lincoln Journal Star
Korean War Veterans Honor Flight, 03/25/2014
ARLINGTON, VA - 03/25/2014 - Korean war veterans from Nebraska participating in the Honor Flight visited the graves of their fellow servicemen amid a relentless snowfall on Tuesday, March 25, 2014, at Arlington National Cemetery. KRISTIN STREFF/Lincoln Journal Star
Korean War Veterans Honor Flight, 03/25/2014
ARLINGTON, VA - 03/25/2014 - Cast in bronze, 32-foot high figures raise a 60-foot flagpole atop a granite base in honor of and in gratitude to all United States Marines and those who have fought beside them at the US Marine Corps War Memorial on Tuesday, March 25, 2014, in Arlington, Va. The sculpture is a representation of a photograph taken by Joe Rosenthal of the Associate Press of the 28th Regiment of the 5th Marine Division's capture of Mount Suribachi on the island of Iwo Jima in 1945. KRISTIN STREFF/Lincoln Journal Star
Korean War Veterans Honor Flight, 03/25/2014
ARLINGTON, VA - 03/25/2014 - Korean War veteran Edward Gnirk is surrounded by students from Oak Hill Middle School of Baldwin County, Georgia on Tuesday, March 25, 2014, at the US Marine Corps War Memorial. After posing for a group portrait with the veteran, students from the school lined up to shake hands and thank Gnirk for his service. KRISTIN STREFF/Lincoln Journal Star
Korean War Veterans Honor Flight, 03/25/2014
WASHINGTON, DC - 03/25/2014 - Korean war veteran Herb Ringenberg of Lexington, Neb. is thanked for his service by a young member of the American Heritage Girls Pathfinders as enters the terminal for his return flight to Nebraska on Tuesday, March 25, 2014, at Dulles International Airport. KRISTIN STREFF/Lincoln Journal Star
Korean War Veterans Honor Flight, 03/25/2014
WASHINGTON, DC - 03/25/2014 - Korean war veterans enjoy some swing dancing by members of Gottaswing DC while waiting in the terminal after a day of sight-seeing in the nation's capitol on Tuesday, March 25, 2014, at Dulles International Airport. KRISTIN STREFF/Lincoln Journal Star
Korean War Veterans Honor Flight, 03/25/2014
WASHINGTON, DC - 03/25/2014 - Korean war veteran Bernard Milton of Lincoln, Neb. enjoys a dance with Gottaswing DC member Dianne Accettulla of Reston, Va. after a day of sight-seeing in the nation's capitol on Tuesday, March 25, 2014, in the terminal at Dulles International Airport. KRISTIN STREFF/Lincoln Journal Star
Korean War Veterans Honor Flight, 03/25/2014
OMAHA, NEB - 03/25/2014 - In gratitude for their service, Korean war veterans were draped with a gold medallion as they returned from a one-day visit to Washington, D.C. on Tuesday, March 25, 2014, at Eppley Airfield. KRISTIN STREFF/Lincoln Journal Star
Korean War Veterans Honor Flight, 03/25/2014
OMAHA, NEB - 03/25/2014 - After returning from a one-day visit to Washington, D.C. on the Korean War Honor Flight, veteran Red Timmerman of Papillion, Neb. looks over his new gold medallion, given to him in gratitude for his service, on Tuesday, March 25, 2014, at Eppley Airfield. KRISTIN STREFF/Lincoln Journal Star
Korean War Veterans Honor Flight, 03/25/2014
OMAHA, NEB - 03/25/2014 - In gratitude for their service, Korean war veterans received a gold medallion as they returned from a one-day visit to Washington, D.C. on Tuesday, March 25, 2014, at Eppley Airfield. KRISTIN STREFF/Lincoln Journal Star
Korean War Veterans Honor Flight, 03/25/2014
OMAHA, NEB - 03/25/2014 - Korean war veteran Larry Butler of Bellevue, Neb. and his comrades are welcomed back after a one-day trip to Washington, D.C. by hundreds of grateful, cheering loved ones with hugs, handshakes, signs and flags on Tuesday, March 25, 2014, at Eppley Airfield. KRISTIN STREFF/Lincoln Journal Star
Korean War Veterans Honor Flight, 03/25/2014
OMAHA, NEB - 03/25/2014 - Korean war veterans are welcomed back after a one-day trip to Washington, D.C. by hundreds of grateful, cheering loved ones with hugs, handshakes, signs and flags on Tuesday, March 25, 2014, at Eppley Airfield. KRISTIN STREFF/Lincoln Journal Star
Korean War Veterans Honor Flight
Irene Anderson of Overton holds a sign in gratitude to the veterans who served in the Korean War while she waits for her husband, Edwin Anderson, to deplane on Tuesday, March 25, 2014, at Eppley Airfield.
Korean War Veterans Honor Flight
Korean War veteran Edwin Anderson of Overton is welcomed home by his wife, Irene, after returning to Omaha from a Korean War Honor Flight to Washington on March 25.
Korean War Veterans Honor Flight, 03/25/2014
OMAHA, NEB - 03/25/2014 - The Papillion Area Concert Band welcomes home veterans from a one-day excursion to Washington, D.C. on the Korean War Honor Flight with patriotic tunes in the terminal on Tuesday, March 25, 2014, at Eppley Airfield. Nearly 460 veterans were welcomed home by hundreds of cheering loved ones holding signs and flags while offering hugs and handshakes. KRISTIN STREFF/Lincoln Journal Star
Korean War Veterans Honor Flight, 03/25/2014
OMAHA, NEB - 03/25/2014 - Korean War veteran Reuben Doerneman of Howells, Neb. is welcomed home by his wife Arlene upon returning from a one-day excursion to Washington, D.C. on the Korean War Honor Flight on Tuesday, March 25, 2014, at Eppley Airfield. Nearly 460 veterans were welcomed home by hundreds of cheering loved ones holding signs and flags while offering hugs and handshakes. KRISTIN STREFF/Lincoln Journal Star
Korean War Veterans Honor Flight, 03/25/2014
OMAHA, NEB - 03/25/2014 - Marcia Schrad of Omaha, Neb. offers free hugs to veterans as they return from a one-day excursion to Washington, D.C. on the Korean War Honor Flight on Tuesday, March 25, 2014, in the terminal at Eppley Airfield. Nearly 460 veterans were welcomed home by hundreds of cheering loved ones holding signs and flags while offering hugs and handshakes. KRISTIN STREFF/Lincoln Journal Star
They arrived Monday, converging on Omaha from about 200 Nebraska towns, ready to spend a whirlwind day touring Washington, D.C., and visiting the Korean War Veterans Memorial.
The idea for the documentary came to him earlier this year, while he was reporting on his seventh Heartland Honor Flight to Washington.
For months, the ashes of the former World War II dental assistant gathered dust at a funeral home around the corner from Omaha South High School.
The couple planning to take Vietnam veterans on a free trip to Washington in early June expected enough interest to fill one jet, maybe two.