There were tears. There was laughter. There were smiles, hugs and handshakes.

Shortly after their arrival, veterans Dr. Earl Daniel, Randolph King, Hassel Painter, Thomas Crumpton, Earl Solomon and Lois Epps Jones placed a wreath at the North Carolina marker at the memorial to honor the veterans who did not survive the war. As the wreath was placed at the site, Conrad Kimbrough played Taps on a bugle.

The veterans’ trip to visit the memorial was made possible by the Roxboro Rotary Club, which organized the “Ride of Honor,” in tribute to Person County’s veterans of World War II. In all, close to 300 people made the trek to Washington to visit the memorial.

Jones, the lone female veteran to make the trip, said the experience was one she would never forget.

“I can’t describe it,” Jones said. “I can’t even say the words. It’s just indescribable.”

Jones served as a medical technician in the Army from 1944 through 1946. She said she had brothers in the war who did not survive.

“My brothers would have marveled to have had the opportunity to be here,” Jones said. “This is truly amazing.”

Jones was among many of the Person County veterans, who were greeted by other tourists, who happened to be visiting the World War II Memorial Wednesday.

“There are total strangers coming up to me and saying ‘thank you for what you did,’” Jones said. “It’s just so special. This is a great day.” >>

Roxboro Rotary Club Vice President Bayard Crumpton said Thursday that one veteran told him after the Ride of Honor that it was his “second most memorable day.”

“He said his fondest memory was the day he came home from the war and got to go home and see his family,” Crumpton said. “That was a day he said he’ll never forget. [The Ride of Honor,] he said, was his second best experience.”

And, that was the purpose of the event, according to Rotary President Margaret McMann.

“Just to be here and see our veterans enjoy this makes everything worthwhile,” McMann said as she stood and watched a host of people milling around the World War II Memorial. “This is a wonderful experience.”

Toufielk Ameen, who served in the Air Force from 1943 through 1946, said he was happy to see the memorial, but was also thinking about those who didn’t survive the war.

“This trip … it’s unbelievable that it could happen,” Ameen said. “I think the veterans really appreciate it.

“It was a long, tough war,” Ameen added. “Some didn’t come back, some did. I think we’re all thinking today about those who didn’t come back.”

Harry (Stony) Stonbraker, who served in the U.S. Navy from 1943 through 1949, said his family was among the lucky ones during the war.

“My mother had five stars in her window,” Stonbraker said. “She had five children in the war, and we all lived through it. That’s amazing if you stop and think about all the lives that were lost.”

Stonbraker said that getting to see the World War II Memorial with so many people from Person County was “wonderful.”

“This is an honor,” Stonbraker said. “I am very thankful to be here.”

Edgar Talbert, a U.S. Army veteran, who served from 1941 through 1945, had seen the World War II Memorial before but wanted to visit it again as part of the Ride of Honor.

“There are 100 counties in North Carolina,” Talbert said. “I think every county ought to do this for the veterans. But you’ve got to have some dedicated people to do something like this. I’d have to be drafted to do something like this,” Talbert said with a smile.

Ted Webb Jr., who entered the Navy as a 13-year-old after lying about his age, had been to the World War II Memorial on three prior occasions, but he said that none was as meaningful as Wednesday’s visit.

“This is my fourth time here,” Webb said. “But I’m going to tell you what, this got to me today. This whole experience has been incredible … people waving at us, saluting us, it’s a lot like when we would go to countries during the war and the people there were so glad to see us come in.

“It’s just amazing,” Webb added. “If this experience doesn’t get to you, nothing will.”

Linzie Blackwell Sr., a Navy veteran, who served from 1944 through 1946, said he was visiting the memorial Wednesday for himself and many others.

“I am glad to be here,” Blackwell said as his eyes began to water. “It’s my first time here. I would have probably never been able to come if it were not for this.

“I’ve been able to see a lot of people I know and that’s special,” Blackwell added. “There’s a lot of fellows I know that would have loved to have come, too, but they were too sick.

“And, there’s some that have died and some that died and never came home [from the war],” Blackwell said as he continued talking with a reporter from The Courier-Times. “I hope you appreciate this, too. I saw a news man get killed in Okinawa. He was doing his job just like you, but he never got to see his family again. This thing is here for him, too.”

U.S. Rep. Brad Miller, along with Sen. Richard Burr of North Carolina, stopped by the memorial Wednesday to visit with the Person County veterans.

“I’m glad we did this,” Miller said, referring to construction of the World War II Memorial, which was completed in 2004. “This put the country’s appreciation for what these people did in stone.

“And, I am glad Person County is doing this for these veterans today,” Miller added. “I hope everyone understands and appreciates what these people and others did. The loss of life was remarkable. That was a tremendous sacrifice by our nation.”

Burr said the Ride of Honor was an “incredible event,” but one that the veterans “certainly deserved.”

“Our nation would not be what it is today were it not for the brave men and women who served in World War II,” Burr said. “I can’t think of anything that is more deserving of honoring. These people had a tremendous impact on our country.”