A pair of Poplar Bluff veterans whose lives were forever changed after being drafted into the Army in the 1950s embarked today on another life-changing experience.
Carlos Hicks and Paul Carnahan are among nearly 30 former service members participating in an Honor Tour trip to Washington D.C.
The trip includes five World War II veterans, 20 Korea veterans and three Vietnam veterans.
"This is our 14th trip and we're doing it to honor the service and sacrifice of our veterans, taking them on an all-expense paid trip to see their memorials in Washington D.C.," explained organizer Rob Callahan of Poplar Bluff.
The three-day trip will include visits to the World War II, Korea, Vietnam and Lincoln memorials, the Washington Monument, the White House, Arlington Cemetery and other locations.
"I'll be glad to see the wall with all the names on it," Carnahan said Friday morning, as the veterans gathered at First Baptist Church.
Carnahan served from 1957-1962, and was stationed in Heilbronn, Germany as a medic with the Fourth Infantry Division.
"(The army) sort of makes a man out of you. You really appreciate everything. You really get a different outlook on life," he explained.
Veterans left First Baptist Church for a ceremony at Poplar Bluff High School, where students and local officials held a program to honor the group before they started their trip.
The event included performances by the SHO ME Band, as well as recognition from Speaker of the House Todd Richardson and Poplar Bluff Mayor Pro Tem Steve Davis.
Both Hicks and Carnahan said this will be their first trip to D.C.
Hicks, who served from 1953-55 at Fort Leonard Wood, thought this would be a nice thing to do.
Like Carnahan, he was drafted as a young man.
"It made a better person out of me," Hicks said, adding, "It gave you some control of what you do."
All expenses for the veterans are covered by organizers of the trip. The trip also includes 23 people who pay their own way and help take care of the veterans, Callahan said. Doctors and nurse practitioners have volunteered to travel as part of the group, he said.