After hosting a group of World War II veterans on a trip to memorials at Washington, D.C., last summer, an Elkhart County group is again planning to take local World War II veterans to the nation’s capital in May and honor these aging heroes all summer long.

Plans are being made to host World War II veterans from Elkhart County on a second bus trip to Washington to visit the World War II memorial, White House and other memorials May 2-4. The trip is being offered at no charge to veterans.

“We want to duplicate our first highly successful trip last August,” explained Chic Lantz, Goshen city councilman and veterans activist who organized the 2009 trip.

“We will depart on Sunday, May 2, from Goshen for a leisurely and comfortable bus ride, enjoy a full day of sightseeing on May 3, including the WW II memorial, White House, Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and the Korean, Iwo Jima and Vietnam memorials on the National Mall,” Lantz said. “We will tour other sites as time and interest indicate.

“On our return on Tuesday we will stop at Shankstown, Pa., to visit the Flight 93 (Sept. 11) Memorial,” Lantz added.

Transportation will be provided by Cardinal Charters of Middlebury. All meals and lodging are included for veterans.

“The comfort and security of our veterans is our ultimate priority,” Lantz continued. “We will have a nurse on board along with a number of personal assistants, and storage for wheelchairs and walkers. The pace of the trip is dictated by the safety, needs and interests of our veterans. We had 35 World War II veterans on the first trip ranging from ages 86 to 91 with a wide variety of physical challenges, so we have a pretty good idea of the support needs and challenges involved.”

Any Elkhart County veteran of World War II is invited to join the trip. Those who require additional support may request space for a personal assistant.

Requests for the trip are being accepted through the end of March. Confirmations will be made April 4, said Mearl Grabill, who is organizing this spring’s trip. Requests may be directed to Grabill by mail or telephone at (574) 354-2628. His address is Heartland Heritage Center, 22606 U.S. 6, New Paris, Ind. 46553.

The trip is being conducted under the auspices and financial management of Goshen’s Celebrate America, the organizers explained. Tax-deductible contributions are welcome. Checks may be made out to Celebrate America and directed to Darla Kauffman, treasurer, c/o First State Bank of Middlebury, 111 S. Main St., Middlebury, 46540, or dropped off at any First State Bank branch.

The Washington trip is just one of several efforts planned in 2010 to honor veterans during the “year of the World War II veteran,” according to Grabill.

Grabill stressed that the effort will first attempt to identify all World War II veterans in Elkhart County.

“We have 400 names now, with about 100 of them out-of-state,” Grabill said. He said the group has a goal of finding about 600 World War II veterans.

“Time is of the essence,” Grabill said. He said that an uncle of his took the trip to Washington in August, but has since died.

The World War II veterans will be honored at the July 4 Celebrate America program at Black Squirrel Golf Club, Grabill pointed out. About 25,000 people attend this event each year.

Filming oral history

Elkhart County volunteers are now working on an oral history project, videotaping interviews with veterans as part of a Library of Congress project.

This oral history project is now under way with the help of John Roth at the Goshen College history department, Joe Springer, who is serving as archivist, and Dan Coyne, Grabill said. More volunteers are needed, he said, especially to coordinate efforts at Middlebury and Nappanee.

“We have 44 interviews completed now,” Grabill said. He said he would like to have 150 interviews completed by July 23, at the start of the Elkhart County 4-H Fair.

“They are not just war stories,” Grabill said, but the group is interested in stories about the era. He said soldiers and pacifists had a common goal of service during this time.

Volunteers working on the oral history project include Roger Bayak of Goshen at 533-0658, and Bill Van Patten, Elkhart, at 295-4173.

Veterans at fair

Grabill said final details are being worked out, but a World War II veteran is expected to be present at the ribbon-cutting of the 2010 4-H fair on Friday, July 23, with a special recognition later that day.

At Veterans Day in November, local mayors will again be asked to recognize this year as the “year of the World War II veterans” and local service organizations will be asked to honor and engage these veterans in various ways.

“If these efforts are realized, it should establish Elkhart County as a national leader in recognizing and honoring World War II veterans,” Grabill said.

Grabill said this voluntary effort is endorsed by several local organizations and he hopes the base of support will be expanded across the county.