Sens. Charles Grassley and Tom Harkin from Iowa and Sen. Ben Nelson of Nebraska spoke with the men about the importance of service to their country and the sacrifices they had made at the World War II Memorial. Former Director of the VA Jim Nicolson was there and Senator Dole, despite a trip to Vermont for the day, made it right on time. It was Cathy Mueller’s first trip and despite a littler rain, seemed to go off perfectly. Al Bailey and Susan Barr accompanied the flight’s 101 veterans and fifty guardians.