SALT LAKE CITY (ABC 4 News) - A chance to give back to veterans may be coming to Utah.
For nearly a decade the Honor Flight has taken WWII, Korean and Vietnam veterans across the country to Washington DC to see memorials dedicated in their honor.
The three-day trip to would give Utah vets a chance to see the World War II, Korean and Vietnam and Iwo Jima memorials-- all free of charge. Because World War II veterans are dying at a rate of 600 a day, organizers say the trip can't come soon enough.
“As far as we know there is less than 10,000 WWII veterans left alive in the state of Utah and most of them, probably 95 percent of them have never been to Washington or seen the memorials there,” said Dan Curtis, Honor Flight organizer. “Give them a chance to see these monuments, see these memorials and have closure.”
For some Utah vets it will be a time to reflect.
“It brings back a lot of memories, you see some of those guys who went through some of the things they went through and you're just tickled to death to see things like that and remember what’s happened,” said Jesse Tracy, WWII veteran.
For others it will be a time to pay their respects.
“Memories of the ones that didn't com back,” said Herbert Barker, WWII veteran. “I was one of the lucky ones.”
“They were buddies, they were friends and they gave everything they had but somehow a lot of us come on through and made it home,” said Jack Clark, WWII veteran.
In order for the honor flight to happen, organizers say they need money and veterans. They hope to raise $10,000 to take 56 Utah veterans on a trip before Halloween.
If you are interested in more information there are two kick-off parties this week.
One will be on Thursday September 12th , 6:00 pm, in Richfield, at the Sevier Valley Center 800 W. 200 S. Snow College Campus.
Another party will be in Salt Lake City on Friday at Post 112 320 E 3900 S at 6 pm.
Click here for more information about Utah’s Honor Flight. Reported by abc4 12 hours ago.
For nearly a decade the Honor Flight has taken WWII, Korean and Vietnam veterans across the country to Washington DC to see memorials dedicated in their honor.
The three-day trip to would give Utah vets a chance to see the World War II, Korean and Vietnam and Iwo Jima memorials-- all free of charge. Because World War II veterans are dying at a rate of 600 a day, organizers say the trip can't come soon enough.
“As far as we know there is less than 10,000 WWII veterans left alive in the state of Utah and most of them, probably 95 percent of them have never been to Washington or seen the memorials there,” said Dan Curtis, Honor Flight organizer. “Give them a chance to see these monuments, see these memorials and have closure.”
For some Utah vets it will be a time to reflect.
“It brings back a lot of memories, you see some of those guys who went through some of the things they went through and you're just tickled to death to see things like that and remember what’s happened,” said Jesse Tracy, WWII veteran.
For others it will be a time to pay their respects.
“Memories of the ones that didn't com back,” said Herbert Barker, WWII veteran. “I was one of the lucky ones.”
“They were buddies, they were friends and they gave everything they had but somehow a lot of us come on through and made it home,” said Jack Clark, WWII veteran.
In order for the honor flight to happen, organizers say they need money and veterans. They hope to raise $10,000 to take 56 Utah veterans on a trip before Halloween.
If you are interested in more information there are two kick-off parties this week.
One will be on Thursday September 12th , 6:00 pm, in Richfield, at the Sevier Valley Center 800 W. 200 S. Snow College Campus.
Another party will be in Salt Lake City on Friday at Post 112 320 E 3900 S at 6 pm.
Click here for more information about Utah’s Honor Flight. Reported by abc4 12 hours ago.