Every year, the Freedom Honor Flight organization out of La Crosse takes hundreds of World War II veterans to Washington, DC to experience their memorials.

On May 8th, we had a chance to go along with some of those men and women as they received the ultimate thank you.

We traveled with them to the National World War II Memorial, as well as other military memorials in the nation’s capital.

"This is really nice,“ said one veteran at the second stop. “I glad I really came."

"This is something I never dreamed could be this nice,“ added Ralph Schumacher from Chippewa Falls. “And, I'll never forget it."

One of the memorials the veterans visited was the National Air Force Memorial. It was a moving experience not only for the veterans, but for the people traveling with them.

"It means a lot,“ said volunteer guardian, Larry Strange. “I mean, I don't know what he experienced during the war, you know, he didn't really talk a lot about it and he isn't really saying much now either, but you know, just to see that he's here and he's enjoying this."

The next stop was at the Marine Corps War Memorial. It depicts one of the most famous incidents of World War II, the raising of the flag at Iwo Jima.

"It's just the neatest thing,“ added volunteer guardian, Dan Kunz. “It's great because the veterans appreciate it so much."

The tribute to our nation’s Marines was especially moving for one veteran.

"I served on Guam and Iwo Jima,” remembered Russell Severson of Arcadia. “We landed the third day. We were in reserve, but we landed the third day. And we were right by the airfield when the flag was raised, so we could see it. We were about a half a mile away from it. But, we could watch everything."

Although Severson was one of many heroes on the Freedom Honor Flight, he was more than humble.

"It's something that had to be done. We were sent to do it and we did it, I guess,” he said.

And humble is how many of the men and women say the once-in-a-lifetime experience made them feel.

"I can't thank the people enough who put this on,“ Schumacher said, holding back tears. “And I wish there would be more veterans who would partake in this. It's something you'll never forget. I know I won't."

Coming up Thursday on Sunrise, we’ll meet some of the people who help get our veterans to Washington.

We’ll also have more on how you can help honor our greatest generation when Freedom Honor Flight: Wings to Washington continues.