In her hometown of Wales, N.Y., Maria Dembik collected stories.

Once a week she'd visit with a World War II veteran. He'd bring his uniform, his medals, and she'd ask questions, recording memories of war with a video camera.

As part of an ongoing project with the local historical society, Dembik sent the videos to the Library of Congress so the men and women who served wouldn't be forgotten, so "patriotism for this country will not bleed away."

Now a Cody resident, Dembik will assist veterans as a guardian on the second Honor Flight-Wyoming trip, which departs Tuesday from Casper. The two-day tour will give 110 World War II veterans the chance to see their memorial in Washington, D.C., for free.

The goal is to make the trip as easy and effortless as possible for the veterans, now in their 80s and 90s. To make that happen, it takes 37 guardians and 14 staff members, among them a physician, two respiratory therapists, two paramedics and a handful of registered nurses.

They work the logistics behind the scenes so veterans don't have to worry. This event is meant just for them.

"I feel this honors those who literally saved the world," Dembik said. "They deserve to know how grateful we are."

Each guardian is paired with three veterans, helping them board the plane and get up and down stairs, assisting those on oxygen or in wheelchairs. Guardians are taught to be proactive. Instead of offering assistance, they provide it.

They make sure everyone stays hydrated and carry backpacks filled with water and snacks. Guardians are there to remind vets to take medication. And they're there to listen to the stories.

"So many folks from this generation are not used to that," said Larry Barttelbort, director of the Wyoming Veterans Commission and operations officer for Honor Flight. "That's why we provide it. They're so used to doing everything for themselves."

When veterans check their luggage at the airport, it disappears. They don't have to touch their bags. An Honor Flight staff member arrives in Washington, D.C., early to make sure luggage is on its way to the hotel.

Guardians hop off buses before the veterans, lining up wheelchairs so everyone is ready to go right away.

"It's all magic," Barttelbort said. "That's how we do this whole trip."

When the plane arrives at Washington Dulles International Airport, a crowd will be there waiting, cheering.

It doesn't matter if an Honor Flight comes in on a Tuesday or a Sunday, Judi Wybenga will be there. She served as a guardian five times, and since March, she's been working as the Dulles Honor Flight network coordinator.

She assembles between 25 and 50 people to clap, shake veterans' hands, thank them for their service, hand out tissues. She carries bags of decorations through the airport up to four times a week. The Honor Flight Ground Crew greets every flight that comes through. They never miss one.

"We should never have waited 60 years to give them what they deserved," Wybenga said. "We wouldn't be here if it wasn't for them."

By the end of the two days, guardians will be exhausted, said senior guardian Pat Smith. This will be his third Honor Flight trip. But being there, getting to see the memorial with these veterans, is worth it.

"It was heartwarming and it was inspirational. It made me feel a part of something worthwhile," he said. "That's why we've kept doing it. ... It's just my way of saying thanks."

Reach features reporter Margaret Matray at 307-266-0535 or margaret.matray@trib.com.

A fitting farewell

Give the 160 veterans, guardians and staff of Honor Flight-Wyoming a proper send-off.

The public is invited to a community farewell ceremony Tuesday at the Casper/Natrona County International Airport.

Gov. Dave Freudenthal, Brig. Gen. Donald Haught and Natrona County Commission Chairman Rob Hendry will speak at the ceremony. The first three hours of parking in the lot is free.

Bring your flags, banners and posters to cheer on the vets as they board the plane, and come back Wednesday to welcome them home.

* Farewell: 8:30 a.m. Tuesday at the Casper/Natrona County International Airport observation deck, Terminal Building second floor.

* Homecoming: 8:30 p.m. Wednesday at the Casper/Natrona County International Airport terminal. Note: the plane may arrive earlier.

Get involved

After this September trip, the two Honor Flight-Wyoming tours will have allowed 220 veterans to see their memorial.

With an estimated 5,000 World War II veterans live in the state of Wyoming, more trips are needed to ensure as many able vets as possible get to make the trip in their lifetime.

It costs about $130,000 to fly one place to Washington, D.C., and all veterans are flown for free through donations.

* Veterans: Those wishing to fly on the next trip can get an application by calling 307-772-5145 or by visiting American Legion or Wyoming Veterans of Foreign Wars posts. Applications also can be downloaded at honorflightwyoming.org.

* Guardians: Honor Flight guardians assist veterans throughout the two-day trip. Because donations are used solely to fly veterans, guardians pay their own way, $800. To apply, call 307-772-5145 or visit honorflightwyoming.org.

* Donate: To contribute, make checks payable to Honor Flight-Wyoming and send to P.O. Box 1143, Cheyenne, WY, 82003. Or call 307-637-2606.

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