By RYAN CHRISTNER

rchristner@dailynews.net

It may have occurred more than three months ago, but a trip to Washington, D.C., taken by 102 World War II veterans in September is still fresh in the minds of those who participated in the emotional journey.

"It was a long day, but I didn't mind it," Paul Dietz, a former Army tech sergeant from Russell, said of his experience on the Honor Flight. "It was more than I expected it to be."

Dietz was joined on the trip by veterans across northwest Kansas who were treated, free of charge, to a one-day round trip to Washington to visit the national World War II memorial and other sites.

About 30 students from Rooks County accompanied the vets as guardians, pushing wheel chairs, passing out food and water and helping in any other fashion they could.

"They treated us wonderfully," Dietz said of the students, specifically highlighting the attention he received from Plainville student Abigail Jones.

While the origins of the Honor Flight program trace back four years to an Ohio physician's efforts to take ailing patients to the newly constructed memorial in his personal plane, the Kansas trip was organized by Natoma residents Pat Hageman, and Randy and Kathy Gish, as well as Tim Hageman of Hays.

Calling it the "most rewarding experience," Pat Hageman said he has received a lot of smiles and appreciation from the veterans, Dietz included, and their families.

"After we got back," Hageman said, "a lot of vets were shaking their heads. They just couldn't believe we did it in one day."

That's not to say there weren't setbacks along the way. While being bused to the Salina Municipal Airport, it was announced that their plane had encountered engine trouble and another was being sent from North Carolina.

The ensuing two-hour delay, while making it impossible to visit every Washington location as originally planned, did nothing to dampen the spirits of the veterans, who were grateful simply for the chance to see the monument that was dedicated to their sacrifices.

The rest of the trip went off without a hitch, as the veterans were greeted at Reagan National Airport by a crowd of cheering passengers and airport employees, traveled to the National World War II Memorial and visited the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery before catching their return flight home, where an even grander welcoming ceremony awaited them.

"It was a memorable day," Dietz said.

Since that day, Pat Hageman said he has been contacted by about five other groups in Kansas -- one near Hiawatha, a Cimarron group and two from the Wichita area -- looking for information on how to raise money for their own Honor Flights.

Given the trip's price tag, somewhere in the region of $86,000, Hageman said he felt lucky the trip took place when it did, instead of during the current economic climate.

"It was a pretty big task to raise all that money," he said.

Accompanying the veterans on the flight was the crew of a Virginia production company working with the Smithsonian Institution on a documentary titled "Wings of Honor" to be aired sometime next year on the Smithsonian Channel.

Tim Baney, founder of Baney Media, said his company is finished with editing and is nearly ready to deliver the final product to the network.

The Smithsonian Channel is a high-definition channel not offered by local cable companies, but is available in HD packages through Direct TV and Dish Network and in standard definition through On Demand.

Hageman said he will be receiving a hard copy of the documentary when it is ready, at which time he plans to approach Smoky Hills Public Television about the possibility of it being shown on their station.

While that documentary will ensure the stories of the northwest Kansas veterans lives on forever, for now it shines bright in the memory of those who took that emotional trip.

"It'll stay in my mind the rest of my life," Dietz said.