Two Powell veterans were chosen to go on last month's Wyoming Honor Flight to Washington, D.C., a long-delayed thank you for their service in World War II.They each had another distinction as well. At 91, Laverne Solberg of Powell was the oldest of the Wyoming veterans to go on the flight.

“They did a roll call by age,” he said. “When they got to 91, I was the only one left standing.”

And, at 84, Lawrence Neher was the youngest person on the flight.

Solberg drove a bulldozer to help build roads for the troops in the Philippines during the war. He still recalls his awe at seeing the light of the tracer fire at night.

Solberg, who has received medals for his service in the Asiatic campaign, said he was proud to be chosen to go on the Honor Flight.

He said he especially enjoyed getting to see the memorials honoring veterans of all the different wars in Washington, D.C.

“There were so many names that you couldn't look them up,” he said. “There were so many names, and so much to do.”

Neher, who served in the Philippines and Japan toward the end of World War II, said, “It was quite the experience, I'll tell you.”

A bus took the Powell veterans to Casper, he said.

“They had quite a doings there in Casper, then the next morning, we flew to Washington, D.C., straight through. They had a heck of a reception for us there, then loaded us up on buses and took us to a motel, and had a banquet there that night.

“The next morning, we had breakfast, then they put us on buses and took us to the World War II Memorial, then when we got through with that, we walked to the Vietnam and the Korean War memorials. Then they took us back to the airport.”

Once back at the airport, “They had a big reception there again,” he said. “It was really an experience, I'll tell you. Everybody had a good time.”

Solberg said he also enjoyed the trip and was honored to be included on the flight. He passed along his thanks to everyone who helped plan, organize and pay for the all-expense-paid trip.