The Honor Flight, which takes World War II veterans to Washington, D.C. to see the memorial built in their honor, made its final trip last week. Channel 6 News’ John Knicely accompanied his father, a veteran.

There were 375 at a dinner last Wednesday night and the same number attended a dinner the next night in Omaha. A total of 750 veterans made the final two Honor Flights from Nebraska. Ten buses were needed to move everybody to the airport at 5 a.m. Friday.

For 82-year-old Jack Stilwell of Unadilla, Nebraska, it would be his first airplane ride. "I was on a troop ship, spent all my time in the Philippine islands, never on an airplane."

Inside the 747, volunteers snapped pictures with cameras given to all the vets for their personal use on this memorable day. A picture taken back in 1944 shows the B-24 copilot who flew missions over "The Hump" in Burma during the war, Jack Knicely, John’s dad.

The Hump was the name given to the eastern end of the Himalayan Mountains by Allied pilots over which they flew from India to China to resupply the Flying Tigers and the Chinese government. The region is noted for high mountain ranges and huge parallel gorges.

In 50 years, Ben Burch of O'Neill, Nebraska said he had never run across another veteran who shared the same experience. "There was no flying like there was flying The Hump. We lost 75 percent of our planes over there in a year-and-a-half. Over a thousand men in The Hump over there somewhere, 120 times over The Hump."

Inside the terminal came a welcome richly deserved for these men, called “the greatest generation.”

"Thank you so much for your service."

For John’s dad, there was also a reunion with his son Jim and his family from Virginia. For Burch, there was a huge surprise from his son Bob, who drove up from South Carolina to be with his dad on this special occasion.

The first bus ride in D.C. carried the vets to the memorial erected in their honor. The World War II Memorial opened in 2004. The visit was the first for most of these veterans.

"They've just done fantastic,” said Al Bruns. "I've had many people come up and say thank you."

"You can't imagine how we've been treated,” said Pete Jensen of Lincoln, who served in the Navy. Not only did his family join him at the memorial, there were four generations, including Pete's son Greg, his granddaughter and his great-granddaughter.

“I was involved in Iwo Jima, lost my brother,” said Pete.

More than 400,000 Americans lost their lives in serving our country during World War II. The stars at the memorial commemorate their ultimate sacrifice.

"I got a little thing I'll show you,” said Laddie Hirsch of Bellevue, who carries a reminder of his tour with the Army in New Guinea, a bullet. "It went in here and they took it out here."

Eight-year-old Daniel joined his grandfather, Walter Witt of Lincoln, who served in the Army in North Africa, Sicily, Italy, France, Germany and Austria.

"I said to him, I know that name and he said to me I know that name," said Gill Hill. These two vets knew each other more than 50 years ago. The Honor Flight brought them together again. “Found out we went to boot camp together.”

Nebraska senators Ben Nelson and Mike Johanns extended their greetings to the veterans and a hello to John's dad came from another veteran, Sen. Bob Dole.

Throughout the day there were more historical landmarks and memorable experiences. "Marines at attention represents six decades of rifle drill.” At the Marine barracks was a special performance for the heartland veterans by the Marine Silent Drill Platoon.

It was a day filled with honor for those who proudly served our country. Cleon Nelson of South Sioux City, Nebraska summed up his experience this way. “I enjoyed the whole doggone day, that's what I did."

And what did Jack Knicely think of the trip and memorial? "This is a wonderful reward for our service and I feel so moved by it, that it was a celebration I did not receive when I came home."