TRAVEL TALES

Young Chang

George Forteville and Don Winton talk about their trip to Israel as if

they’ve just returned from an old friend’s home.

The Sea of Galilee is the most beautiful lake in the world as far as

Winton, 81, is concerned. It’s also where the Bible says Jesus walked on

water, where he grew up and where he spent most his life, the Corona del

Mar resident added.

Forteville, of Newport Beach, was affected by the Garden Tomb of

Jesus, where the Bible says Christ was resurrected. Golgotha stood in the

background, the city where he was crucified. For 77 year-old Forteville,

standing in spots most people have only read about was a spiritual

experience.

“It’s inspiring to go to to a place where you know there’s a lot of

history from the life of the Lord Jesus Christ,” said Forteville, who

belongs to Costa Mesa’s Calvary Chapel with Winton.

World War II veterans Winton, Forteville and 10 other pilots, bombardiers and other service men who meet regularly for breakfast in

Newport Beach went on the trip together in March. The purpose was to

support the people of Israel and take in the homeland of the Bible.

The group visited an Israeli army air base, where they were given a

tour, introduced to commanding air force generals and led into the

cockpits of F16 fighter planes. They walked through a tank museum, talked

with Israeli air force officers and watched the pilots do aerobatics in

the air.

“We wanted to have a get together with Israeli fighter pilots and show

them that we’re supporting them,” Winton said. “Our solidarity is with

Israel.”

Outside of the base, the men visited the Mount of Beatitudes,

Capernaum, Masada, raved over the abundance of date palms and banana

trees and enjoyed the food.

This was Forteville’s second time to Israel and Winton’s 22nd.

“I just have a love for the land,” Winton said.

A professional sculptor, the frequent traveler has done portraits of

Israeli leaders including Theodore Hertzel, who founded the idea of the

nation of Israel; David Bengurian; Golda Meir and a host of prime

ministers and other figures there. He casts the sculptures in bronze.

For Forteville, a retired supervisor in the Los Angeles Times’ press

room, his most recent visit to Israel moved him as more than just a

traveler.

“To be where Jesus walked and Jesus talked, it was a very very

interesting trip,” he said.

* Have you, or someone you know, gone on an interesting vacation

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