Washington, DC -
Senator Jim Inhofe of Tulsa (R-OK) welcomed veterans from the Oklahoma Honor Flight program on Wednesday.
Inhofe, an Army veteran and senior member of the Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC), welcomed 102 World War II veterans during the 9th Oklahoma Honor Flight to Washington, D.C.
The Oklahoma Honor Flight program's mission is to transport Oklahoma veterans to Washington, D.C., to visit memorials that are dedicated to honor their service and sacrifice.
During WWII, the State of Oklahoma became a hub for pilot training at Ponca City, Enid, Altus, Miami, and Oklahoma City.
Nearly 5500 Oklahomans were killed in action throughout the course of the World War II.
Wednesday also marked the 68th anniversary of the D-Day Landings in the pursuit to defeat and regain lost territory from Nazi Germany.
More than 209,000 were killed, wounded, or missing on the beaches and drop zones of Normandy, France, during Operation Overlord, a number roughly ten percent of the entire Allied force.
"The State of Oklahoma was instrumental in the war efforts, and the non-profit Oklahoma Honor Flights organization is doing wonderful work to honor our veterans today by providing this trip so that members of the Greatest Generation can see their memorial here in our nation's capital," Inhofe said in a press release.
Over 500 World War II veterans are on the active waiting list to participate in future honor flights.
