For 16 million American servicemen and women, World War II is something they will never — or never did — forget. It sadly lived up to its name as a World War and for more than 400,000 Americans, it was the war that ended their lives.

Now 65 years after the end of World War II, those veterans who fought bravely and returned home are growing fewer in number, making the work of some locally even that much more crucial.

During a presentation to the Selma Rotary Club, Joe Matthis and Roscoe Williams, with River Region Honor Flight, a group dedicated to taking area World War II veterans to the World War II memorial in Washington, D.C., thanked the club for their help in help supporting the group’s efforts.

“If it were not for groups like this one, then we would not have been able to make this happen,” Matthis said.

Over the three years of River Region Honor Flight, 438 area World War II veterans were flown to Washington, D.C. for the daylong trips, which included tours of the World War II, Vietnam, Iwo Jima, Korean War and Lincoln Memorials. The trip also included a trip to Arlington National Cemetery.

“We filled up each of our five trips. And during those five trips we never lost anyone,” Matthis said. “We were late once in Washington for about 15 minutes because we couldn’t find one of our veterans. When we found him he said that he wanted to see the changing of the guard at the Tomb of the Unknowns … twice. That was no problem at all.”

According to Williams, each of the trips cost approximately $60,000, with all of the expenses being paid through donations from area organizations.

Matthis said when the group began they were provided a $10,000 to start.

“To charter a f light is more than $40,000 and the down payment is $9,980 so I told the others that we were about to send in all but $20 of our money to reserve this first flight,” Matthis said. “At that point we all agreed that we were going to make it happen regardless, even if we had to go to the bank and get loans out ourselves.”

But, before that first flight happened, the group had received enough money to pay for the trip in full and through the five trips held by the group, they were able to pre-pay for all the expenses without ever having to have a fundraiser.

“We received well over $342,000 in contributions to be able to pay in advance each time we organized a flight,” Matthis said. “That was amazing.”

For Matthis though, the five successful trips are not able to continue. Not because of funding, which the organization still has, but a more fundamental reason.

“We simply do not have anyone left to take,” Matthis said. “We had five chartered flights (U.S. Air 737s) and were able to fill up everyone of them. But the last ones were a struggle. We even extended our reach to Alexander City, Dadeville and other areas to fill up the final trips.”

As for the gratitude American owes these — and all — veterans, Matthis recounted what the shirts the veterans were given when they stepped off the planes in Washington, D.C.

“On the back of the shirts it reads, ‘If you can read this, thank a teacher. If you’re reading this in English, thank a veteran,’” Matthis said.