Arizona state lawmakers pay tribute to WWII veteran

PHOENIX (KSAZ) - Arizona state lawmakers paid tribute to a World War II veteran Tuesday.

After the Pearl Harbor bombing, Walter Ram joined the Army Air Corps and went on several bombing missions before he was shot down over Germany, and was captured.

Ram would eventually be liberated by U.S. forces in 1945.

On Tuesday, State Rep. Macario Saldate (D-Tucson) read a proclamation at the State Capitol in Ram's honor.

"To be honored like that is a great thing," said Ram. "What I did in the service, we had to do it to maintain our way of life."