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He served his country in Vietnam, but Cliff Naylor still feels he has a debt to pay back.

That’s why Naylor is organizing 21 Wounded, an effort to bring wounded soldiers to Southwest Florida for a long weekend of relaxation.

“When I was (wounded) in Vietnam, it was done for me. I went to Miami Beach and I was welcomed home very honorably. I wanted to return the favor,” said Naylor, commandant of the Veterans of Foreign Wars post in North Fort Myers.

Twenty-one wounded soldiers from the Dwight D. Eisenhower Army Medical Center at Fort Gordon, Ga., will arrive in Naples by bus on Oct. 30.

They’ll stay at Port of the Islands Resort and indulge in the usual Southwest Florida pastimes — fishing, airboat rides, lounging by the pool.

It will be the second time Naylor, with the support of veterans groups throughout the region, has hosted wounded warriors. Last year the group of 21 stayed in Fort Myers.

On Friday, Oct. 31, a welcoming ceremony is planned at Port of the Islands. The Immokalee High School marching band will play and an honor guard from the Collier County Sheriff’s Office will present the colors.

The public is invited to the 10 a.m. ceremony to show appreciation for what the soldiers, who’ve suffered serious injuries including head wounds and loss of limb while in Iraq and Afghanistan, have done for their country.

Jean Kungle, a Realtor at Port of the Islands, is hoping for a large turnout Oct. 31. “I wouldn’t mind seeing cars lined up along (U.S.) 41 that day,” she said.

Wounded veterans at Dwight D. Eisenhower routinely take field trips to Washington, D.C., but Jennifer Chipman, spokeswoman for the Army hospital, said the Southwest Florida effort is unique. “It’s not a common occurrence when a community pulls together and is able to finance a trip like this,” she said.

She said Naylor called her out of the blue and proposed the idea. “He said, ‘This is what I’d like to do...’” The Army approved and soldiers were eager for the chance, Chipman said. “A trip to Florida? In (late October)?”

Last year the wounded veterans gave Southwest Florida rave reviews, she said. “I heard from the soldiers. Those folks (the hosts) just couldn’t do enough for them. The places they went, the things they did. It was just fantastic. We’re so grateful to Mr. Naylor.”

VFW, American Legion and other veterans groups are contributing money to make the trip happen. Naylor says donations from the public are appreciated as well. Checks payable to VFW District 13 may be sent to VFW Post 10127 996 Pondella Road, North Fort Myers, 33903. The memo line should read 21 Wounded, a separate account set up for this program, Naylor said. “The post can’t go out and have a party with it or anything like that.” A motorcycle run is planned for Saturday in Fort Myers to raise money for the event, Naylor added.

There is also a need for volunteer drivers to shuttle the veterans through the weekend.

For more information on the event or how to help, contact Naylor at (239) 841-2019.

Naylor says he plans to keep organizing 21 Wounded trips to Southwest Florida as long as there’s a need.

“I really appreciate doing this for these kids,” he said.

(E-mail Brent Batten at bebatten@naplesnews.com)