Warriors to Washington celebrates a very successful “Fifth Year Annual Trip to Washington DC”! What a success it was. Warriors to Washington had the pleasure of hosting over 30 local veterans, their guest, members of the media and for the first time meeting with one of our sponsors in Washington.
Our journey began at the Presque Isle Downs and Casino who once again provided a generous sendoff meal to our honored veterans and their guests. We arrived late Friday evening at the majestic Marriot Westfield who once again was the host hotel for our trip. Saturday morning our veterans and guests were treated to a buffet breakfast at the Westfield and then it was off to the US Capitol for a film about the history of Congress and the historic building itself. After the film the group was led through the historic Rotunda, Statuary Hall, the First Supreme Court Chamber, famous Crept room under the Rotunda and the Plaque Honoring the heroic American’s on United 93 whose target was the US Capitol.
After leaving the US Capitol it was off for a buffet lunch at the busy Union Station. Next we visited the National Archives where our Veterans and guests were able to see firsthand, the Declaration of Independence, the very US Constitution that all members of the military swear to uphold and defend, and many other of our founding documents.
Once we left the National Achieves our Veterans and guests were dropped off in front of the White House and toured the Historic National Mall. They were able to see the Washington Monument, The World War II Memorial, the Vietnam Wall, the Korean War Memorial and of course the Lincoln Memorial. From there it was a short trip across the Potomac River to the new refurbished Marine Corps Memorial depicting the famous flag raising at Iwo Jima. The day ended with a dinner stop at one of Washington’s many famous restaurants, Carmines for a suitable filling meal.
Sunday began with breakfast at the Westfield and check out for a very busy day. First it was off to Arlington National Cemetery. This year once again Warriors to Washington had the high honor of participating in a “Wreath Laying Ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown”. After this very solemn ceremony they were able to watch a “Changing of the Guard” conducted by the precision soldiers of the “Old Guard”. The next stop was the Pentagon where our group was honored to have a family member of American 77 tell what it was like to lose family members on 9/11 and offer her words as to the meaning and symbolism of the monument honoring those lost there on 9/11.
We then departed Washington DC. After a quick lunch stop it was off to Shanksville and the “United 93 Memorial Crash Site”. This powerful historic location speaks to the valiant effort made by everyday Americans on 9/11 to take the fight in the skies over Pennsylvania to those that would attack our freedom. Our Veterans and their guests saw the Welcome Center and listened to some of the flight recordings made by the passengers during the flight. They saw the Memorial Wall with the names of those lost that day and the newest feature of the first of 40 “Voices Towers” that will fill the landscape surrounding the expansive grounds near the crash site. Then at the end of the tour, at a spot not far from the United 93 Crash Site, Warriors to Washington presented each Veteran with a Warriors to Washington coin. Our coin ceremony is meant to honor our Veterans and to thank them for their dedicated service to the nation in a place of great honor and emotion.
Our trip ended where is began but in those jam packed few days they had experienced a great deal. Warriors to Washington was pleased to share the journey with our Honored Veterans and their guests for our “Fifth Annual Trip to Washington DC”. Thank you to our Veterans for your service and we look forward to hearing from you all again soon! It was a great trip! – Joe
Mission Statement
“To honor the veterans from the Northwestern Pennsylvania region that were deployed and served the nation in the Armed Forces as a result of the attack on 9/11 by taking them to historical and national sites in Washington DC.”
