Local veterans and loved ones attend free trip to nation's memorials

Photo provided by: Denise Freitag Burdette

(LAWRENCEBURG, Ind.) – A busload of local residents left the Lawrenceburg American Legion on Friday morning and traveled to Washington, D.C. 

The oldest resident on the bus was a 93-year-old veteran and the youngest travelers were two local third graders. 

This annual trip for local veterans and their loved ones is organized by P.G. Gentrup. It is made possible by several organizations including the City of Lawrenceburg. 

Before arriving in Washington, the bus made a detour to allow the veterans to visit the site of the United 93 crash in Shanksville, Pennsylvania. 

After departing the national memorial, the veterans arrived in Washington on Friday night.

This initiative was created several years ago to give local veterans a chance to see the memorials that were created in their honor, which they explored on Saturday.

The annual trip is completely free to attend for local veterans.

Gentrup, who is a Vietnam veteran himself,  continues to lead the trip every year and says he looks forward to many more years of leading this initiative.

The bus returned to the Lawrenceburg American Legion around 6 p.m. Sunday.