World War II veteran Steve Downing Jr. is taking the Warrior Flight to Washington, D.C. Photo from Cherokee Nation

The Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma is flying seven World War II veterans to Washington, D.C., this week.

The tribe is financing the "Warrior Flight" in order for veterans to visit the National World War II Memorial and tour other monuments in the nation's capital. Steve Downing Jr., 89, is among the participants.

"I’m very grateful to the Cherokee Nation for this opportunity," Downing said in a press release. "It’s something that just touches me in a way that is kind of hard for me to describe.”

William Wood, 94, is also making the trip. He just received the Cherokee Medal of Patriotism in recognition of his military service.

“I can’t explain what it means to be recognized by my tribe,” Wood said in a press release. “It’s a great day for me to be recognized by Cherokees, and it’s just something I can’t express.”

Nine veterans were supposed to be on the flight, The Tulsa World reported. But one passed away and another suffered an injury in recent weeks, the paper said.

“This is a way to tell our Cherokee veterans thank you and that we will never forget their service and sacrifices,” Deputy Chief S. Joe Crittenden, who is a veterans and will be taking part in the trip, said in the press release.

The veterans will return to Oklahoma on Thursday. The list of participants follows:

Navy veteran Steve Downing Jr., 89, of Locust Grove
Navy veteran Dewey Alberty, 88, of Tahlequah
Navy veteran Charles Carey, 88, of Hulbert
Army veteran Guy Wilson, 97, of Hulbert
Army Air Corp veteran William Wood, 94, of Vinita
Army veteran Eugene Fox, 91, of Bartlesville
Navy veteran Joseph Leathers, 92, of Big Cabin

Get the Story:
Veterans headed to DC on Cherokee 'Warrior Flight' (The Tulsa World 9/23)
Cherokee Nation Vets To Tour Washington D.C. Memorial Sites (News on 6 9/23)