Vietnam veteran

Veterans Day – A Moment of Honor and Reflection

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Today, we pause to recognize the men and women who have worn our nation’s uniform and carried its responsibilities with courage, commitment, and sacrifice. Veterans Day is not simply a date on the calendar—it is a reminder that freedom has a cost, and that cost has been paid by generations who stepped forward when the country needed them most.

The image here was photographed yesterday at the Fields of Valor installation in Cathedral City. Among two thousand waving flags, each tribute tells a personal story. This one honors a Vietnam veteran who earned the Purple Heart—an unmistakable reminder of the human toll of service and the quiet strength that defines so many who return home carrying both visible and invisible wounds.

As we mark Veterans Day, AFA Palm Springs extends our gratitude to every veteran, from every era, and to the families who stood beside them. Whether you served overseas or stateside, in combat or in support, your service continues to shape the freedoms and security we depend upon today.

We invite our community to take a moment—today and every day—to reflect on that service, to thank a veteran, and to carry forward the respect they deserve.

Major Lee Cohen – Honor Flight Mission #18

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**Join Us in Welcoming Him Home!**All are invited to participate in a special **Welcome Home Celebration** this **Sunday, May 18, at 12:30 p.m.**, when Major Cohen and fellow veterans return from their “Tour of Honor.” Bring your flags, signs, and applause as we give these heroes the welcome they truly deserve!

📍 **Location:** LAX – Southwest Airlines Terminal 1, Baggage Claim Area

✈️ **Flight:** Southwest #WN3261

The Palm Springs Chapter 134 of the Air & Space Forces Association proudly honors one of our own—USAF Major (Ret.) Lee Cohen—on his selection to **Honor Flight Southland’s Mission #18**. Major Cohen joins a distinguished group of veterans receiving an all-expense-paid journey to Washington, D.C., to visit the memorials dedicated to their service and sacrifice.

Major Cohen’s Air Force career spans pivotal moments in Cold War and Vietnam-era history. Commissioned in 1959, he began his service in electronic warfare with the EB-57, testing NORAD defense systems and training interceptor pilots. Later, he flew with the 317th Fighter Interceptor Squadron in Alaska—recognized twice as the best in the Air Force—before deploying to Southeast Asia during Operation Rolling Thunder. There, he flew 119 ½ combat missions over North Vietnam in EB-57s and F-102s.

For his courageous service, Major Cohen was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross and nine Air Medals. After contributing to planning efforts for the return of American POWs and serving in key operational roles, he retired in 1978 as a Major. He now resides in Beaumont, California.