Helicopters have always been difference-makers.

On the multilayered battlefields of Vietnam in the 1960s, the versatile Bell UH-1 Iroquois "Huey" helicopter made a difference. Now, 60 years later here at home, one particular Huey is again making a difference, especially in the lives of veterans.

"The UH-1 was like the jeep in the second World War," said Martin Kleiner, the mission coordinator for Liberty Warbird Association, a local nonprofit dedicated to promoting memories associated with the Huey helicopter. "It was a utility vehicle, and it did just about everything. It served three roles, as a troop carrier, a medical evacuation helicopter and a gunship, depending upon the model and how you deployed it."

More of an organization than a club, the Liberty Warbird Association (LWA) preserves, maintains and deploys a 1967 Bell UH-1 Iroquois helicopter, affectionately dubbed Huey 823. LWA houses its Huey 823 in a hangar in Suite T at the Lancaster Airport, 500 Airport Road, Lititz, where it also maintains an office and from which it flies missions.

Members of LWA gather on Saturdays at Lancaster Airport to work on and maintain the aircraft. Those gatherings are open to the public, but rides on the helicopter aren't offered.

"It is absolutely open to the public and we encourage people to come out to the hangar, see the aircraft and talk to the people who maintain it," said Kleiner. "Any time we are at the hangar, you can do that. For any veteran or veteran group, we can set up a special private visit to the hangar."

LWA's purpose and reason for existing is just that - to honor veterans, especially from the Vietnam era, and educate others on the role that the Huey played in that war. LWA accomplishes its mission by flying to and attending activities designed to recognize veterans.

Each year, LWA flies Huey 823 to the Lebanon VA Medical Center to honor veterans receiving treatment there and their caregivers.

"We don't do political events, religious events or commercial events," said Kleiner. "But if someone is creating an event honoring veterans, we will participate. We show people how the aircraft works. We talk about the type of missions it flew in Vietnam. We want to educate people about the role that Hueys played in Vietnam. A lot of people see the pictures but don't understand what it did, which was basically everything."

"When Vietnam veterans came home from the war, they didn't get a lot of respect," he continued. "We want them to get that honor and respect they deserve. We want to restore the pride of all veterans, but especially the Vietnam veterans. When people come out and see it, it takes them back. If you've ever been around a Huey, it has a very distinct sound, and you can smell the burning of jet fuel. When people can relate to it, it makes a big difference."

There are about 40 active volunteers involved with LWA and another 50 individuals who play a more supportive role in the organization. More than 25 of those members either flew helicopters or maintained them during the Vietnam War or in peace time.

"(Huey 823) requires about 10 hours of maintenance for every hour you fly it," said Kleiner. "It burns 95 gallons of jet fuel per hour. It has a two-hour flight range. If a group wants us to fly a mission for them, they have to basically do the fundraising."

LWA was formed in 2011 after Huey 823 was purchased for $600,000 in California, then flown to Lancaster. During its wartime service from 1968 to 1970, Huey 823 flew 1,400 hours in Vietnam.

More than 12,000 helicopters of all types were deployed during the Vietnam War, 7,555 of which were Hueys.

"In the early 2000s, the Army divested itself of all Hueys," said Kleiner. "This one went to a training school for mechanics. When the organization first started, (officials) were doing a lot of events at air shows and they were able to provide rides. But the FAA said, 'We don't think you should be doing that without a certain approval.'"

During their military service, Hueys were operated by crews of four and could carry as many as 10 soldiers. Hueys could reach a top speed of 127 miles an hour.

For additional information, go to http://www.libertywarbirds.com.