Veterans gather for a journey to see war memorials in Washington

Twenty-two veterans of World War II and the Korean and Vietnam wars gathered Tuesday at Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport for a flight to Washington, D.C., as part of the Last Frontier Honor Flight program.

The trip, on which each veteran is joined by an escort, will take them to national monuments and war memorials for the first time for five days at no cost to the veteran.

Vietnam veteran William Bishop said it was an opportunity that meant a lot to him.

"When we returned, we didn't get treated right," said Bishop, an Alaskan since 1970. "I appreciate this. This is really, really dear to my heart."

This week's trip was the 12th Honor Flight from Alaska and the first of two Honor Flights planned for this year.