World War II vets greeted by hundreds after trip of a lifetime

SAN DIEGO, CA (FOX NEWS) - Dozens of world war two veterans receiving the homecoming they've been waiting for on Sunday. About 100,000 people in San Diego, welcoming back these American heroes.

FOX's Zohreen Adamjee has the story.

Seventy-six local World War II vets spent the weekend visiting memorials in Washington D.C. dedicated to their sacrifice. For some, the best part of the weekend was coming home to a major crowd.

When they landed at Lindbergh Field, a crowd of nearly a thousand family and strangers, military and civilians, were ready to thank them.

For some, the best part of the weekend was coming home to the crowd. Freddy Warner, He joined the U.S. Navy 73 years ago in San Diego, broke down when he saw his daughter Shannon.

"It's overwhelming. I can't believe this. I just can't believe it," said Warner said.

"He always said, 'They forgot about us. They forgot about us,'" said his daughter Shannon.

Warner waited three years to go on the trip and confronted many haunting memories when he was there.

"I had a lot of bad memories over there, but that's in the past. All these people remembered us that's what meant most to me," said Warner. "Nothing can compare to this."

He created new memories Sunday, seeing his family and hundreds of people he's never met. They gave him the welcome home he says he never had.

Honor Flight San Diego is the group that puts together the trips. Their spokeswoman says a thousand World War II vets die every day in the U.S., so it's a priority to send them on the trips.

They encourage people who are interested in contributing to go to their website.