Veterans From Pittsburgh Visit WWII Memorial Day After Government Reopens

WASHINGTON DC (KDKA) -- The first day the government reopened, a group of 36 World War II and Korean War veterans from the Pittsburgh area bused to Washington DC to see the World War II Memorial.

Expecting the worst, trip organizer Jerry Fisher came prepared.

I was afraid with all this crap going on down there I brought my own wire cutters and I got a couple other fellas, we're ready," said Fisher.

But wire cutters were never needed as visitors of all kinds were welcomed, not just to the World War II Memorial, but to all the other museums and monuments.

Park volunteer George Kerestes, originally from Monessen, welcomed the Pittsburgh vets.

"To the World War II veterans here, I say thank you for your service and welcome to your memorial," he said.

To think that the beautiful memorial, honoring such important people in our lives, along with public parks all across the nation was shut down because of the dysfunction of Congress makes veterans from Pittsburgh very angry.

"It's disgusting. This Congress is a disaster," said one veteran who made the trip.

"It doesn't show any respect for the people and it's just a terrible con game on the public," added another veteran.

The 16-day shutdown didn't accomplish anything for those members of Congress who wanted to defund Obamacare.

"Big waste of time, I personally say. That's all I can really say about it," Seth Clemens, an Ambridge native, said.

RELATED LINKS:
More Political News
More Reports by Jon Delano