World War II & Korean War Vets Welcomed Home In Style

World War II and Korean War veterans were welcomed back to Bucks County in style after an all-day visit to America’s war monuments in Washington D.C.

Roughly 150 veterans – most in their 80s and 90s – traveled in several motorcoaches from Bensalem to the monuments Monday as part of Bucks County’s Tour of Honor.

Traveling through the nation’s capital under police escort, the veterans stopped at the various monuments and were even greeted at some by current members of the military. Along with their “Guardian” helpers, they visited the various memorials to remember those, including their comrades, who had lost their lives in the two major wars in the mid-part of the 20th Century.

“It all was just overwhelming,” said veteran Pierson Burton of Pipersville. “I’m sure this – seeing all the monuments – was overwhelming, great.”

The trip capped off with a rousing welcome at Parx Casino in Bensalem. With police cars and motorcycles, veteran groups on motorcycles, high school marching bands, about 100 cheering people and a helicopter hovering low overhead, the veterans returned to Bucks County where the casino provided a dinner for the heroes.

“It was a great show. The display of flags, flashing lights – it was fantastic,” said Alice Gibson of Buckingham, who served in the Navy’s records department from 1944 to 1945.

Veteran Jerry Agasar of Levittown said he had a great time on the trip and really liked going with his Guardian, who he jokingly referred to as his “sidekick.” 

Organizers said the Tour of Honor is Bucks County’s version of Honor Flight, a similar national program that the county has taken part in over the past several years. Bucks County Recorder of Deeds Joseph Szafran and his staff worked to organize the special event and coordinate the trip.

“What a day for vets to be able to see the WWII and Korean monuments It was an incredible day,” said Bucks County Commissioner Chairman Robert Loughery, an Army veteran whose two grandfathers served in the military during World War II.