CARY – World War II veterans gathered with family and friends in the parking lot of Fifth Third Bank in Cary on Friday for an important trip.

The six veterans, each accompanied by one or two family members as escorts, were headed to General Mitchell International Airport in Milwaukee and an Honor Flight trip to Washington, D.C., this weekend. They will visit the WWII memorial erected in honor of those who served and contributed to the war effort.

Taking the trip are James Donaldson, Fred Simonsen, Thomas Romanello, Thaddeus Tyska, Roger Benson and Warren Sweeney. Donaldson and Simonsen are Navy veterans. The others served in the Army.