Honor Flight for Gilbert Freudenberg
Gilbert Freudenberg recently participated in the Honor Flight to Washington D.C. Gilbert was recognized as a Korean War veteran and went to Washington D.C. on September 16 and 17, Flight # 75. He caught the flight in Austin, Texas, where he and other veterans were greeted by a Military Honor Guard. In Washington, he stayed at the Sheraton Hotel, in view of the National Monument Mall. On Saturday they were bussed to the Mall and ceremonies began with a posting of the colors at the World War II memorial, followed by visits to memorials recognizing veterans of the Korean War and Vietnam War, as well as the Lincoln Memorial and the gravesite of Audie Murphy at Arlington National Cemetery.
Later they were taken to the Air Force Museum, the Naval Museum, and the Tomb of the Unknown soldier. One of the other participants, the only World War II veteran on the trip, assisted in the placing of the wreath on the Tomb of the Unknown soldier. Upon return to the Austin airport, the veterans were greeted by a Military Honor Guard and an Austin Fire Department water salute.
(Honor Flight is a non-profit organization that provides this service free of charge, with staffing mostly by volunteers. This was the 10th anniversary of the flights departing from Austin.)