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WALLINGFORD - When a young lady hurried over to Earnest Skattebo of Wallingford and offered to help him walk the rest of the way down the stairs of the Lincoln Monument, he probably looked a little strangely at her. He may have been 91, but he was used to a lifetime of work. Just as soon as he got back from this honor flight, he was going to help bring in the corn.

While Skattebo may not have been typical of all the veterans who took a recent honor flight to Washington, D.C., Nov. 4, his spirit was certainly typical of those World War II veterans who took the day-long whirlwind trip of the nation's capitol. Some used walkers. Others used wheelchairs. Some had ventilators. Some, like Skattebo, walked on their own accord. Every one of them enjoyed every minute of it.

It was the third honor flight sponsored by the Hy-Vee corporation. Skattebo said each trip aboard a large jet costs about $250,000.

Skattebo traveled with a southern Iowa contingent at the suggestion of his granddaughter, Jennifer Snyder, who read about the honor flight in the newspaper and told him about it. So he filled out the application and his daughter, Jeanne Handeland, drove him down to Des Moines Tuesday, Nov. 3 where he stayed in a motel.

Reveille came at 1:30 that morning with breakfast at 2 a.m. Eleven buses carried them to the airport as people thronged along the streets to wave flags at the same heroes who had been welcomed back to the States more than 60 years before. Then, at about 5:30 a.m., their flight departed.

No one knows exactly what went through the minds of all those veterans as the plane lifted. No doubt, it included memories of going to war and coming home again. This time, though, while accompanied by fellow soldiers and volunteer escorts, the purpose was for peace and not war.

After they landed, their tour included the World War II monument and monuments honoring those who served in Vietnam and Korea. He also saw the changing of the guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and finally, after an emotional day, they drove through the streets of Washington after dark. They arrived back home 11 p.m. the same day.

"Everyone was just glad to get to go," said Skattebo.

Skattebo's World War Ii service started when he enlisted in the Army Air Corps July 1942. He had previously taken civilian pilot training in Estherville but his later training took him to Des Moines and Atlanta. When it was determined he was colorblind, he was given a slot as a liaison pilot instructor in Lubbock, Texas.

For a time, he was supposed to go teach in glider school - even though he had never flown a glider himself - but that school closed and he went to cryptography school. It was after that when he was sent on overseas duty to the Isle of Louis north of Scotland where he and eight to 10 other Americans coded messages at a Royal Air Force base. He was there for a year until the Allied victory in Europe then he went to London and later Paris.

Among his best memories were going out into the country and buying eggs right off the farm. He also remembers going with two buddies to Switzerland where they went toboggoning.

As Skattebo reflects on his military experience those 60 or so years ago, he can offer advice for young people considering the military today.

"I think it would be a great experience," he said.

As for future honor flights, he encourages anyone interested in going. Volunteer aides can also make the trip for $600.

A fundraising dinner for a northwest Iowa honor flight will be held tonight at the Wild Rose Casino & Resort at Emmetsburg. The meal is $15 with half the proceeds going back to help pay for the honor flight.

The meal starts at 6 p.m. with a program to follow at 7 p.m. The program will offer more information for World War II veterans interested on going on the honor flight, prospective escort volunteers or potential honor flight sponsors.