Dorothy Halevy, shown in this 1942 photo, served in the Women's Army Auxiliary Corps during World War II. (BARBARA V. PEREZ, ORLANDO SENTINEL / February 4, 2008)
Darryl E. Owens Sentinel Staff Writer
February 7, 2008
Bill Mancinik's father, Frank, never talked much about his time as a gunner in the Pacific Theater during World War II.
"They went to war. They served. They came back and gave us the world we have today, and I didn't think much about it," said Mancinik, 57.
But his interest grew years after his father's death as he learned more about what's been called "the greatest generation." And it skyrocketed when he discovered Honor Flight, which provides free trips for veterans to see the World War II Memorial in Washington, D.C.
Mancinik, of DeLand, leads Volusia Honor Air, a collaboration of three Volusia County Rotary Clubs seeking to raise $65,000 to fly 100 World War II veterans to see the memorial in May. Though the campaign has sprung up in several Florida communities, Volusia Honor Air is the first of its kind to take flight in Central Florida.
"It not only intrigued me," Mancinik said of Honor Flight, "but moved me to such an extent that I thought, 'We have to do this.' "
So far, 49 veterans are booked, with 16 applications pending. The group has $14,535 in its coffers and hopes to raise more through a publicity campaign and word of mouth.
"It's our chance to thank the remaining men and women for what they did," said John Cheney, 55, president-elect of the Rotary Club of Downtown DeLand.
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