Tuscaloosa Rotary Club Honors West Alabama Veterans With Tour Of Vietnam Wall, Other Memorials In Washington, D.C.

By Donna Cope

For nearly 40 years, Vietnam veteran Scott Gilbert has endured difficulty and pain when walking, after losing his lower right leg to a land mine.

On May 9, Gilbert joined 94 other west Alabama veterans in touring the Vietnam Wall and numerous other memorials in Washington. It became a “sentimental journey” of sorts for Gilbert, who faced down his memories of the Vietnam War and the years of physical and emotional pain he endured.

During the 9th annual Tuscaloosa Rotary Honor Flight – a project sponsored by members of the Tuscaloosa Rotary Club – the veterans were treated to a free plane ride and tours of the World War II Memorial, Vietnam Veterans Memorial, Lincoln Memorial, Iwo Jima Memorial and Arlington National Cemetery.The group included at least four recipients of the prestigious Purple Heart medal, as well as two World War II veterans. Many veterans were accompanied by family members or assisted by a “guardian” who paid their own expenses to attend. Guardians help less mobile veterans with wheelchairs or other needs.

Please visit Alabama News Center for the Full Article

Tags: exp3

Category: ALL POSTS, Partner News Stories