ORLANDO -- Wednesday was Veterans Day, a day set aside to honor military veterans across the United States.
Veterans are an important part of the Central Florida community, and there are more than 1.7 million vets throughout the state.
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» Find A Veterans Day Event Near You
The Tiger Bay Club of Central Florida typically talks politics at their luncheon meetings, but not Wednesday.
Tiger Bay invited local veterans from World War II, Korea, Vietnam and Afghanistan to honor them and hear their stories.
Bill Coleman was one of the Paratroopers who landed in Normandy just before the invasion of D-Day. He was a member of the 101st Airborne celebrated by the book and movie “Band of Brothers.”
Joe Kittinger is known for his balloon exploits, but served three tours in Vietnam as an Air Force pilot. He was shot down in an F-4, and spent almost a year at the infamous Hanoi Hilton.
"I think it's fabulous, and it's really appreciated that people would turn out to listen to a bunch of old … I mean it's kind of nice (laugh) to be able to come and answer questions that people might have had about what might have happened in the various wars. I think it's really good," Coleman said.
"It's a day that's especially pungent for those of us who are veterans, because of all the people that we buried during our careers, and also it's a day that we worry about Americans around the world,” Kittinger said. “It's a special day for all veterans."
Coleman will be Scott Harris' special guest this Sunday on The Agenda at 10:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. on News 13.
Veterans Day On Demand
You can learn more about Central Florida’s veterans with your Bright House Networks remote control!
Tune to News 13 On Demand, Digital Cable Channel 313, for an in-depth look.
News 13’s Scott Harris recently spent a day with over 100 local World War II veterans in the nation’s capital.
The group went as part of the Volusia Honor Air team, a nonprofit group that gives veterans a free trip to Washington as a way of thanking them for serving their country.
READ MORE:
Part 1 | Part 2
PLUS:
» Where Did The WWII Vets Go?
» About Volusia Honor Air
Also on News 13 On Demand, find celebrations of Veterans Days past around Central Florida, including the 2006 Harley-Davidson Thanks to the Troops event.
2009 Veterans Day Parade
You can also pay tribute to the veterans this Saturday in downtown Orlando. The 2009 Veterans Day Parade kicks off at 10 a.m. Saturday. You can watch it LIVE on News 13.
The parade will include marching bands and floats, including 15 featured in the Gasparilla parade in Tampa, and a salute to the men and women from over 150 Central Florida veterans’ organizations.
The route begins on Livingston Street and Orange Avenue, turns left on Central Boulevard, then left on North Rosalind Avenue, and ends back at Livingston Street.
» Map of Parade Route
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