'Honor Flight' Veterans Group Says NO to Government Shutdown and makes their way into WWII Memorial (Video)

A group that included elderly veterans forced their way into the World War II Memorial on Tuesday in defiance of a federal government shutdown that had closed the monument. 

The memorial on the national Mall was closed along with most of the city’s memorials and museums after Congress failed to reach a federal spending deal by midnight Monday.

Dozens of people, including several in wheelchairs, made their way on to the grounds of the monument just before noon as police officers, National Park Service personnel and tourists watched. 

The group, which arrived in four buses, was part of an “honor flight” that brings veterans to the District to see the memorial. They were accompanied by a handful of members of Congress. Among those present were Rep. Steven M. Palazzo, Mississippi Republican; Rep. Steve King, Iowa Republican; Rep. Louie Gohmert, Texas Republican; and Sen. Roger Wicker, Mississippi Republican.

Mr. King’s spokeswoman confirmed to The Washington Times that he distracted the guards, giving the veterans the chance to break through. 

Rep. Michele Bachmann, Minnesota Republican, also addressed reporters. 

“They fly in and they fly out the same day. They have a tiny window of opportunity, so you can’t wait for bureaucracy to make things happen, so that’s why we just did what we needed to do and we got ‘em in and so we’re committed. We’re going to come down here every day we’re shut down — members of Congress are going to be here. We’re going to make sure that these delegations get in.”

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