On Saturday in Washington, Erie’s Warriors to Washington spent the morning inside the U.S. Capitol, a moving stop on their three-day journey honoring service and sacrifice.

The post-9/11 veterans from Northwest Pennsylvania walked the storied halls, taking in the history and reflecting on the freedoms they defended.

Led by founder, Retired Major Joe Pfadt, the group paused at statues and memorials that speak to the cost and the responsibility of citizenship.

For many, it’s a chance to connect their own service with the legacy of those who came before.

"It's great to have our post 911 veterans that's our primary mission, to take our post 911 veterans and those who have been recently deployed around the world, and then have people who have been in the Cold War, Vietnam vets and have that mixture because generationally we all did the same thing", said Joe Pfadt.
 
Richard Mellon of the Mellon Veterans Outreach Group said, "I'm humbled by it. I live in a country my parents sacrificed so I would live free. I feel that I owe a debt to our country to view and share what they have to offer us."
 
Kyle Smith, a tour guide said, "I think this is a real special tour and special group, I appreciate their service, so obviously you want to take the time, they fought for this country, take a little extra time, slow down the tour, I want to give extra care to this, because you've done so much to sacrifice for me, if I can repay it back in some way I want to."