In 2013, a number of World War II veterans pushed through barricades and stormed into the World War II Memorial in Washington D.C. during a government shutdown.
A number of veterans visiting the memorial from Mississippi as part of an Honor Flight tour, pushed through the barricades to visit the memorial while lawmakers and several tourists cheered them on.
Rep. Steve King, R-Iowa, distracted National Park Police while several lawmakers and staff pushed over the fences and barricades so the veterans could get through.
“We didn’t come this far not to get in,” one veteran said, according to Stars and Stripes.
Once the veterans made their way inside, Park Police stood to the side not knowing how to handle the situation except to tell other tourists that the memorial was closed.
The trip took months to plan and required roughly $100,000 in donations for the 80 or so veterans visiting the memorial.
“This just means so much to me,” said World War II veteran Alex “Lou” Pitalo. “I waited 70 years to get a welcome like this. And to get to see this and to have all those people clapping … I’m just so happy. This was amazing.”
