A Greenwood veteran is heading to Washington, D.C., over Veterans Day on an Honor Flight he says he never expected to take.
Sgt. 1st Class Jeffrey Leffler enlisted in the Army in April 1980, planning to save money for college. The enlistment turned into a career of nearly two decades that began in combat infantry, continued in the Adjutant General's Corps, and included service at the National Training Center in California and in Germany, with deployments to Zagreb, Croatia, and Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina. He finished his career as an instructor.
This summer, multiple strokes left Leffler with partial vision loss. His wife, Vicki, reached out to Blind Veterans of America, which obtained Ray-Ban Meta AI glasses for him. He says the glasses can read to him and provide turn-by-turn directions while he walks.
After he received the glasses, the Lefflers were invited on the Honor Flight. About 50 veterans and their caregivers will spend a few days touring memorials and museums on the National Mall, ending with reserved seating at the Veterans Day ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery.
Military service runs through Leffler's family, from a father who served in the Navy to a grandfather killed in Africa during World War II. He says he served out of duty rather than for recognition, and he reminds people that veterans can be thanked on any day, not only on Veterans Day. Veterans interested in a flight can contact Honor Flight of Central Indiana.
