World War II veterans sought for trip to Washington, DC

WEST WARWICK - Archway Bus Transportation of West Warwick, AAA Southern New England and the Arlington Court Hotel of Arlington, Va., are looking for 48 Rhode Island-area World War II veterans to travel to the World War II Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C., on Tuesday and Wednesday, Nov. 10 and 11, free of charge.

The idea is Stephen Archambault's, owner of Archway Bus, who wants to honor his late father and all his father's comrades, past and present, who are veterans of World War II. Archway is providing the motorcoach that will take the veterans down to the nation's capitol on Nov. 10, take them to the memorial on the morning of Veterans Day, and bring them back to Rhode Island in the afternoon and evening.

When Lloyd Albert and Carl Richardson of AAA Southern New England heard about the planned trip, they volunteered their experience and expertise to find luxury accommodations in the D.C. area. Jim Malixi of the Arlington Court Hotel responded with discounted double-suite rooms at the hotel and with a free, light dinner on arrival and a free continental breakfast on Veterans Day.

All area World War II veterans who are medically able to make the trip, able to get to and from the central departure and return point and who are physically able to board and disembark from the motor coach independently are eligible to apply.

The motor coach will depart the Cracker Barrel Restaurant in Coventry, at exit 7, off Route 95, at 7a.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 10 and return to the same point at 9 p.m. on Veterans Day, Nov. 11.

To apply for a seat on the motor coach, veterans should send a letter or e-mail to Archway Bus giving the following information: Name, address, telephone number, e-mail address (optional), service branch, military theater of operation, unit, rank, military occupational specialty, and a brief statement of why you would like to go on the trip. All applications must be in by 5 p.m., Friday, Oct. 30.

Archway will select the 48 veterans to make the trip from the letters received and hopes to select veterans from all of the service branches.

Letters and e-mails should be addressed to Stephen Archambault, Archway Bus Transportation, Inc., 76 Industrial Lane, West Warwick, RI 02893 or e-mail to archway@cox.net, or call 828-4100.