Family finally says goodbye to pilot killed in Vietnam

WINTER HAVEN (FOX13) - The last time Bill Stewart saw his father, Colonel Peter Stewart, he was 6 years old.

"He was just a loving father, a teacher to all of us, and an incredible husband to my mom, they were best friends," Stewart said.

The Air Force fighter pilot was shot down in 1966 during the Vietnam War. What happened to their father haunted the family for years, until his remains were identified in March.

It makes this day mean that much more.

"It's been 52 years since I've had a Father's Day, that's what this weekend means to me," he said.

Saturday afternoon, Colonel Stewart's family met his remains at Tampa International Airport, and a motorcade escorted them back to their home in Polk County.

Sunday, the community paid its respects. 

"For the first time in 52 years, he's in America. But we're here today to celebrate his homecoming this weekend. And the community here in Winter Haven has rallied around him, it's been just absolutely awesome," Stewart said.

It's proof, he says, of our country's commitment to its fallen.

"There is a code out there that says they're not going to leave anyone behind," he said. "But it's taken a long time to get into North Vietnam to find the remains and identify the remains, but no one ever forgot."