FRESNO (KMJ) — The Central Valley Honor Flight has put out the call to encourage more local Vietnam veterans to take part in future trips to Washington D.C., but organizers fear that convincing them will be a struggle.
The regular journey from Fresno to the East Coast is funded by donations, and those who served in the U.S. Armed Forces have all their expenses covered. The Honor Flight has already carried veterans of the Second World War, the Korean War, the Cold War, as well as the Vietnam War, to see the memorials dedicated to their service. Organizers want to include more who served in Vietnam.
“There’s been a reluctance,” explained Central Valley Honor Flight volunteer Bill Goodreau.
“There’s that reluctance of being recognized as a Vietnam vet because that has transcended from when we were young guys and people were so hostile to us back then. That hostility and the deep impression it made on those men has taken a long time to finally fall away.
“Due to that, there’s not a suspicion but a hesitancy of being recognized for that.”
Goodreau, who was served in the Army in Vietnam, said civilians would react negatively towards those in uniform.
“Even though that was long ago, I think sometimes when something hurts deep it takes a long time to heal.”
Vietnam War veterans wanting to take part in future honor flights can apply clicking here. Honor Flight organizers continue to appeal for donations as well and a link to more information can be found clicking here.
Hear the report from KMJ’s Dominic McAndrew as it aired:
