Vietnam veterans become focus for Honor Flight trips

PINELLAS COUNTY, Fla. — Honor Flight of West Central Florida is working to recruit more Vietnam-era veterans for free trips to Washington, D.C., as the number of World War II and Korean War veterans able to travel continues to decline.

The organization, which started 20 years ago to take World War II veterans to Washington to see their memorial, now flies about 300 veterans a year to visit veterans memorials, according to Tracy Luchtenberg, president of Honor Flight of West Central Florida.

Rob Cozen, a Navy veteran, and Bob Swick, a Marine veteran, are among 76 veterans traveling Tuesday with Honor Flight of West Central Florida. The two friends said they are glad to make the trip together.

“No coincidence at all. Well planned,” Cozen said.

Cozen and Swick, who are 80 and 85, said they waited years for the opportunity because they wanted World War II and Korean War veterans to go first.

“I was very conscious about not wanting to go before they exhausted all of the World War II and Korea guys,” Cozen said. “Also, we wanted to be sure that we went together.”

“Korean War veterans have had their chance, and they’ve passed; the World War II have passed, sadly, but that’s part of life,” Swick said. “Now it’s our turn.”

Luchtenberg said Honor Flight of West Central Florida now mostly recruits Vietnam-era veterans because so few World War II and Korean War veterans remain who can travel.

“There just aren’t many left that are able to leave their area and travel,” Luchtenberg said. “So it’s very difficult at this point.”

Of the 76 veterans heading to Washington on Tuesday, only one is a World War II veteran, and one is a Korean War veteran. The rest are Vietnam veterans.

Luchtenberg said the organization asks veterans who have taken the trip to help spread the word to others.

“We ask them to spread the word at their clubs, their American Legions, to their friends, neighbors, to try and get more veterans to apply,” Luchtenberg said.

The trip is free for veterans and takes place in one day, with participants leaving in the morning and returning that night.

Swick said the return home is one of the most memorable parts of the experience, with large crowds greeting veterans at St. Pete-Clearwater airport.

“You’re talking about hundreds and hundreds of people that come to the St. Pete/Clearwater airport to greet the people that have come by and are coming back, and the tears that flow are just beautiful,” Swick said.