Lloyd Anderson from Galva provided the program for the Henry County Genealogical Society meeting on Tuesday, April 25 at the Kewanee Public Library.

Anderson detailed his experience as a recipient of the Honor Flight. Through a photo presentation, Anderson told about his 2015 experience. He also detailed the selection process which includes an application and a meeting a few days before the trip, where recipients meet their guardians for the day and receive their bright yellow shirts and jackets.

Anderson’s experience began at the airport with coffee and donuts. The group landed at Dulles Airport and was loaded onto a bus. Children waving flags greeted them when they arrived, he said.

“It was a heck of a welcome,” said Anderson.

After leaving the airport, Anderson said stops included the Smithsonian Institute- Air and Space Museum where he got to see the famous B-29 bomber, the Enola Gay.

“We liked airplanes and we took a lot of pictures,” he said.

From there, the group toured the Lincoln Memorial, the VietNam Memorial, the Women’s Memorial, the Lincoln, Korean and World War II Memorials and were able to get photos in front of the Capitol Reflecting Pool.

About 90 Veterans were on Anderson’s honor flight, he said, recalling the somber moment of the changing of the guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.

The veterans were able to drive through Arlington Cemetery and also visited the Air Force Memorial. The group was fed about five times that day, Anderson recalled. Two breakfasts were served along with several box lunches, topped off with ice cream at the airport upon their return.

“It was a trip you can never forget,” he said, urging people to apply to become guardians to accompany honor flight recipients.

Anderson said there is a cost for the trip in order to be a guardian.

“If you can be a guardian on (a flight), I suggest you go. It’s worth the 400 bucks,” he said.

Future programs for the HCGS include presentations by Betsy Wikerson, Beth Carvey with the Civilian Conservation Corps, and Dick Wells, who will speak on Bunker Hill.

A spring Genealogy and Local History Workshop is also scheduled for Friday and Saturday, May 12-13 from 10 am to 5 pm. The two-day workshop will feature local, regional and national presenters, on and off-site genealogy and research instruction and a learning lab. Lunch and Learn sessions will be held on both Friday and Saturday.

For registration and more information, call (319)753-1647 or email nhalls@burlington.lib.ia.us.