ROGERS — When Alan Baker emerged from the tunnel at the Washington, D.C .,airport and found a cheering crowd, he thought, “This is all for me?”

But while he tells the story withself-deprecating humor, the trip to Washington and the applause was all for him and for 90 other World War II veterans from the area.

Years after their service ended, sponsors, including Wal-Mart and Tyson, provided a free trip to see the World War II Memorial. The Honor Flight took off Oct.

17 from Northwest Arkansas Regional Airport.

Baker told the veterans’ group that meets each month at the Adult Wellness Center about the experience. He will also speak at the next meeting of the American Legion.

You would need a week to really see Washington, D.C., he said, but he did get to see the memorial, Arlington National Cemeteryand several of the important buildings around the capital city. They were served three meals, including breakfast and dinner on the plane and a box lunch under a large tent.

When they returned to XNA, there was another big welcome. Baker posed for a photo with the Rogers Heritage High School football team, along with his grandson’s school project, a poster-sized picture of the veteran. The applause seemed to mean as much to the 92-year-old veteran as the chance to tour Washington, D.C.

Community, Pages 3 on 10/28/2009

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