Local Marine Corps father and his sons attend Veterans Honor Flight to Washington D.C.

Cpl. Jerry Lutterbeck of Coldwater served in the U.S. Marine Corps during the Vietnam War, 1960-1965.

Recently, he was invited to participate in a June 8 honor flight to Washington. When Jerry asked if his sons, Scott and Jeff, could be his “guardians” for the trip, he mentioned they also are Marine Corps veterans.

As it turned out, they all were invited to be honored veterans. Maj. Scott Lutterbeck entered the service in 1985 and served 24 years as a helicopter pilot. Sgt. Jeff Lutterbeck served during Operation Desert Storm, 1989-1995.

On Wednesday, they traveled to Washington D.C. It happened to be Jerry’s 80th birthday.

The trek started early — 5:15 a.m. at the Fort Wayne, Ind., airport. Fire truck ladders formed an arch for the group on their way to the airplane, with a majestic U.S. flag flying above.

The 85 veterans with guardians and staff made it a group of 170 on the American Airlines charter flight. When group members learned it was Jerry's birthday, they sang to him.

Because Jerry is in good health and his sons are young compared to many others on the honor flight, no guardian was required, but they got one anyway: Diane Hawkins, their honorary celebrity guardian. She is the niece of Sgt. John Basilone, a decorated Marine for his courage during World War II.

As Marines, the Lutterbecks knew all about Basilone, who on the battlefield did what you see in action movies. The difference: Basilone died in action in 1945.

According to Wikipedia, beyond being highly decorated, Basilone’s courage led to two U.S. Navy destroyers being named after him.

Hawkins is keeping Basilone’s memory alive through film and social media. Out of her respect for Marines, Hawkins has been on other honor flight trips, Jerry said.

After arriving at the nation’s capital, the veterans were treated like royalty, including a police escort. At the World War II Memorial, an honor flight group from Iowa joined them. Visitors lined the path cheering and waving flags.

Students on field trips were in the mix of visitors. One young girl ran up to Jerry and asked to have her photo taken with him.

“Hell, I had a tear in my eye,” Jerry said.

The group also visited the Lincoln Memorial, where the 24-member Marine Corps Silent Drill Platoon performed a unique precision drill exhibition. It's called the “Silent Drill Platoon,” because there are given no auditable commands.

“It was impressive,” Jeff said.

A hiccup in the day was a 90-minute delay. It was hot in Washington that day, Jeff said. Although honor flight volunteers kept them supplied with cold water, one of the veterans had a medical emergency.

When they could move on, other stops included Arlington Cemetery, where at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, they witnessed two changing of the guards. During the second one, some of their group laid the wreath.

They visited the U.S. Marine Corps War Memorial, but didn’t have time to get off the bus. Then they were at the Air Force Memorial for a boxed dinner and watched the Air Force Drill Team performance.

Back on the charter flight, a weather delay got the group home late. But it was definitely worth it, they said.

Jerry was amazed by the respect they were shown by tourists.

“No matter where we went, the people would part and thank us for our service,” Jerry said. “It was just nice.”

Jeff added, “Even in the airport travelers just stopped and created a kind of tunnel. They were clapping and saying thank you ... spending my dad’s birthday — me and my brother with him — it was just great."

Jerry agreed.

“It was a great way to spend my birthday. Couldn’t think of a better birthday gift.”

There was someone missing the honor celebration. Jerry’s wife of nearly 50 years, Sherry, passed away several years ago, but she wasn’t far from their thoughts during the trip.

“I met Sherry in Washington D.C. in 1963 when I was stationed in Arlington," Jerry said.

He grew up in Ohio, but the family came to Branch County when Jerry was hired at Midwest Foundry, where he eventually worked as vice president of operations.

He and Sherry lived in Quincy 43 years and had five children — Teresa, Patricia, Scott, Deborah and Jeff. They all graduated from Quincy High School,

Jeff now lives in Coldwater and is a supervisor at Clemens Food Group. After retiring from the Marine Corps, Scott eventually moved to Fort Wayne.

This article originally appeared on The Daily Reporter: Veterans Honor Flight to Washington D.C. for local Marine Corps father and his sons