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Space Coast Honor Flight will fly 50 veterans to Washington, D.C., for its inaugural trip from Melbourne Orlando International Airport.

Using the Melbourne airport shortens the trip by several hours, which is significant for the elderly veterans participating.

A public welcome-home ceremony is planned at the airport to give the veterans the celebration many did not receive after their service.

On Jan. 28, 1967, enemy troops ambushed U.S. Marine Corps. rifleman Joe Testa Jr. and his platoon while they were on patrol near Duc Pho in South Vietnam.

Testa crawled from his position, disregarding his own safety, to help rescue several seriously injured Marines from a burning area — .

Military officials later awarded Testa a Bronze Star for battlefield heroism. During hi

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