ROBERTSDALE, Ala. — Clarence P. Phillips served his country in Italy and France from 1943 to 1945. The area man had hoped to see a little of the world when he joined the Army.

Phillips, a resident of Summerdale saw Italy and France during his service during World War II.

Like many service members, there was plenty of danger. Phillips recalls a time when a supposedly “knocked out” German tank shelled a truck he was riding in. He was injured in the shelling and later returned to the area to open up a cabinet shop with his father.

But there was one thing Phillips wanted to see — the new memorial to veterans of that war in Washington, D.C.

That wish came true earlier this month when Phillips took an “Honor Flight” from Mobile to the nation’s capital.

“I have been wanting to go up there and see all that,” said Phillips, 85. “I went to Washington before I went overseas.”

Phillips added that his time in Washington was limited and he didn’t see much.

That changed when Phillips went to Washington,

“The memorial is a very beautiful place,” said Phillips, but he found the “best” stop on the veteran’s whirlwind tour of Washington was some place else.

“The best was the changing of the guard (at the Tomb of the Unknown Solider) at Arlington National Cemetery,” said Phillips.

The way Phillips got to Washington was through “Honor Flights.” The goal of the organization, whose Web address is honorflight.org, is “Helping every single veteran in America, willing and able of getting on a plane or a bus, visit their memorial.” The Web address for the local group is honorflightSA.com.

Honor Flights provide a free plane ride to Washington to veterans of World War II. The organization makes sure that the medical needs of the veterans are met. Friends and family members may go as “guardians” to less able veterans, but must pay for their plane ticket.

Disabled American Veterans Chapter 6, the Klug-Smith Chapter out of Foley, collected $500, enough for a guardian to go on the flight.

“We’re a small chapter,” explained Larry Teal of Loxley, the group’s treasurer.

Of course, it didn’t hurt that Phillips is the chapter’s commander.

“He’s my commander and my friend,” explained Teal. “It’s not just the DAV, but all veterans.”

Carl Bailey of Robertsdale is the DAV state chapter adjutant. He’s also a member of DAV Chapter 6.

“It’s like a secretary,” he says modestly of his state rank.

"I’d like to go as a chaperone,” said Bailey, but added that his position in the state DAV requires him to go to Washington frequently.

“I’ve been going back, but not on an Honor Flight,” he said. “America finally woke up and honored a great generation of American people.”

Those interested in being a chaperone on an Honor Flight” should contact Dr. Larry Lee Booth, at 251-626-3211 or e-mail BLB@SJEB.com

The DAV Chapter meets the first Tuesday of the month in Fairhope. All military veterans disabled due to their ]service are welcome. For information, call 947-5262, 945-5783 or 989-6653.