World War II veterans storm memorial, defy US government shutdown

US World War II veterans have defied barricades at Washington DC memorial closed due to the US government shutdown.

World War II veterans defy barricades to commemorate the Honour Flight. Picture: Leo Shane/Twitter

US World War II veterans have defied barricades at Washington DC memorial closed due to the US government shutdown.

The Mississippi Sun Herald reports that congressmen present were told by the National Parks Department to remove the barricades at their own risk, which they did so the veterans could lay wreaths.

"I’m not going to enforce the ‘no stopping or standing’ sign for a group of 90 World War II veterans," said a US Park Police officer, who declined to give his name. "I’m a veteran myself."

Nearly 200 World War II veterans and their guardians left Gulfport for Washington DC despite the government shutdown.  They had chartered an $US80,000 ($86,000) plane, and their plans were too far advanced to postpone when the government shut down.

Mississippi Gulf Coast Honour Flight vice-president Wayne Lennep said the veterans would not allow the government shutdown to derail their plans.

"We're going anyway," Mr Lennep said. "We don't know how close we will be able to get, but we're going to see what we can."

The veterans were met with a heroes welcome at Reagan National Airport in Washington DC, thunderous applause and live jazz music echoing around the terminal.

"For some reason, I just feel like royalty," said Navy and Air Force veteran Jim Ferencak, of Pascagoula, as he boarded his tour bus.

At the Korean War Memorial, a group of veterans from Puerto Rico also moved barricades aside in order to lay a wreath. The veterans represented members of the 65th Army regiment, which fought in Korea.

Anthony Mele, president of the regiment’s honour task force, said a Park Police officer admonished the group that the site was closed and then "literally turned his face and walked away" as the men moved the barriers in order to enter.

"We went on the other side of the barriers like good soldiers should, and we laid our wreath there," Mr Mele said with a smile. "We were told that all permits were rescinded. I thought they said all permits were cancelled except ours."