From Mt. Rushmore to NYC: Eight Military-Inspired Wishes Shared Through Wish of a Lifetime from AARP

Wish of a Lifetime from AARP helps older adults achieve long-held dreams that honor their service, reconnect them with loved ones or celebrate meaningful life experiences. Many of the wishes come from veterans or their families. Each one is based on their own history and a desire to reconnect with meaningful moments. This photo essay highlights six dreams that have already come true — and two that soon will — showing how powerful a single experience can be in honoring service, legacy and community.

Robert's Visit to Mt. Rushmore.

Courtesy WOL

A lifelong admirer of American history, Robert McCauley dreamed of visiting Mount Rushmore ever since seeing it in textbooks as a child. As a veteran of both the Vietnam War and Desert Storm, he faced rejection and hardship after returning home — experiences that left scars. In July 2024, Wish of a Lifetime arranged a trip for Robert and his wife, Peggy, where he finally saw the monument he’d long hoped to visit. “It felt so good, it was almost unreal,” he said. “We felt like we were king and queen that day.”

Greg Visits the 9/11 Museum and Memorial.

Courtesy Lee Smathers/WOL

After serving in the Air Force and laying hundreds of fellow service members to rest as an honor guard, Greg Ryan faced a new battle: stage 4 lymphoma. The illness left him unable to walk and searching for purpose. In June 2024, Wish of a Lifetime helped him fulfill a longtime dream: visiting the 9/11 Memorial in New York City. Greg recalled after the trip, “I was so emotional. I feel gratitude for living in this country and for the rights that we have as Americans.”

John, 100, revisits hometown for Memorial Day.

Courtesy WOL

At 100 years old, John Swartz made a meaningful return to his hometown of Maysville, Missouri, for Memorial Day. A World War II veteran, Swartz traveled with his daughter, Darla, to reconnect with the place where he built a life with his late wife and family. The visit gave him a chance to reflect on decades of service, love and community.

101 Year-Old Vicki visits Washington D.C,

Courtesy WOL

At age 101, Vicki Herrell traveled to Washington, D.C., to visit the war memorials she’d never seen. A Navy WAVES veteran and former “Rosie,” she was honored as a Living Legend and toured the World War II Memorial and the National Air and Space Museum’s Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center, where she saw the aircraft she once helped build. “It was overwhelming and wonderful,” she said. “I felt like a celebrity.”