(ROCKWALL – October 5, 2013) World War II veteran Taylor McClure, 89, of Rockwall was among several local veterans aboard Honor Flight DFW Oct. 4-5. The all-expense paid trip to Washington, DC included visits to the WWII, Korean, Vietnam, Marine (Iwo Jima), Navy and Air Force Memorials; Arlington Cemetery; and Walter Reed Hospital to meet wounded warriors.
“Taylor was in the Navy and flew as a radio man on small amphibious craft called a PBY. They flew very low through Gibraltar over the Mediterranean looking for enemy submarines. T aylor was in a family of six boys and they were all in different branches of the military service at the same time,” said Mary McClure, Taylor’s wife.
Rep. Ralph Hall (TX-04) and other Texas Republicans took to the World War II Memorial in D.C. on Oct. 4th after hearing visiting Honor Flight veterans would be barricaded from entering the site. The open air memorial was barricaded Tuesday under the Administration’s government shutdown orders, and furloughed park rangers were sent to stand guard.
After his trip to the memorial and visit with fellow WWII veterans, Rep. Hall (lieutenant, senior grade, aircraft carrier pilot from 1942 to 1945) made the following statement:
“These veterans made the greatest sacrifice for their country and have traveled from all over to see this memorial built in their honor. WWII veterans are an older generation, and this may be the only opportunity many of these servicemen and women have to see their memorial. The Administration should not prevent them from doing so. I’m going to do everything I can to make sure these heroes are able to see their memorial – and if I have to cut down a fence, I will.”
Join the community in honoring our local heroes at the Veterans Day Program, 4:30 p.m. Monday, November 11 at the Rockwall County Veterans Memorial. Keynote speaker will be Major General James L. Williams, USMC (retired).
Photo submitted by Mary McClure. Blue Ribbon News, all rights reserved.
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