It was the chance of a lifetime for John Nutting.
An Edmonds resident who served on an aircraft carrier in the Pacific in World War II, Nutting and a fellow vet attended the dedication of the World War II Memorial in Washington, D.C., in May.
“It was really very humbling,” Nutting said of the memorial. “We thoroughly enjoyed it.”
A group of Boy Scouts in Mill Creek are hoping to provide a similar experience for 12 more World War II vets, or more.
In a project they’ve called “Wings of Honor,” they’re trying to raise money to send the veterans to visit the memorial.
They’re focusing on sending veterans “who maybe wouldn’t do it if it weren’t for an organized group,” said Chris Duros, an assistant Scout master with Troop 35.
The idea was the brainchild of Scott Senter, another assistant Scout master with the troop. He read about the planned dedication of the memorial and got to thinking about his father, who was wounded twice in Europe and was imprisoned by the Nazis in Poland.
Nutting and Earl Horn, members of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1040 in Lynnwood, met with the troop recently to tell the boys about their experiences in the war and their trip to the dedication. They also filled them in on the logistics of the trip and what they can expect in terms of expenses.
It will take about $3,000 to send each veteran and a companion, Senter said, meaning the troop needs to raise $36,000 to send 12 veterans. So far, $700 has been raised.
The troop is planning to raise the rest through a dinner-and-dance auction in the early fall and through car washes and other endeavors. Scouts must adhere to their by-laws so they must provide goods or services in exchange for asking for any donations, Senter said.
The current target date for the trip is next spring. The Scouts will put the word out and take applications from interested veterans. They’ll start locally but won’t limit the geographical area, Duros said.
If they can pull the trip off, they’re hoping the idea will spread and other World War II veterans – most of whom are in their 80s – will get the same chance, Senter said.
The Scouts are looking forward to sending the veterans and also hearing their stories of the trip when they return, the Scoutmasters said.
That interaction, Senter said, “is really the focus of the whole thing.”
Reporter Bill Sheets: 425-339-3439 or sheets@heraldnet.com.
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