Kentucky veterans return home from honor flight
LEXINGTON, Ky. – A welcome home ceremony greeted 68 Kentucky veterans returning from an honor flight that traveled to see their memorials on the National Mall in Washington, D.C.
The group returned home on Saturday, Aug. 24.
Kentucky’s Touchstone Energy Cooperatives’ sponsored the honor flight, which allowed veterans to spend a full day touring Washington.
Veterans that traveled on the flight included those that have served during the Korean and Vietnam Wars, as well as three Purple Heart recipients, according to a release by Farmers Rural Electric Cooperative Corporation.
“It’s hard to talk about it,” said Chuck Wellman of his service. Wellman served in the 27th Infantry Regiment “Wolfhounds” in Vietnam from 1968-1969.
The Greenup Country resident said he’s looking forward to boarding a plane for the first time since he was discharged from the armed forces in 1970. “There was a guy I went to basic (training) and AIT (advanced individual training) with and went to Vietnam with who got killed,” Wellman recalled. “I’ve seen the replica of (The Wall), and I want to see the real thing.”
“It was rough, but I’d do it again. Service means a lot to me,” Wellman said.
The honor flight also carried two women veterans, who were inducted into the Military Women’s Memorial during the trip.
Taylorsville resident Carl Schuler said he guarded flight lines and helicopters during his tour in Vietnam, where he was eventually promoted to Specialist, 5th class, commonly known as a sergeant’s rank. “Definitely proud of it,” Schuler said of his service.
He added the Vietnamese were super people. “I really sympathized with the Vietnamese people,” he said.
“It’s a privilege to be able to fly these veterans to their memorials, and it’s an opportunity to repay them in some small way for their service to our nation and our community,” said Toby Moss, president/CEO of Farmers RECC.
Moss said Honor Flight is a significant part of the cooperatives’ “commitment to our local communities.”
