THE HONOR FLIGHT EXPERIENCE
On the ground in Washington DC and back home at Hancock Airport, Mission day is unlike any other for our veterans. Watch their stories in our Summer newsletter and you’ll know for certain why your support of Honor Flight Syracuse means so much.

“I see all these guys that didn’t come back”
Raymond Phelps reflects on the human cost of war. View the video below to hear what he told us on Mission 20 in April:

“It was just so memorable”
Retired Army Colonel Blaine Fleming served as a helicopter pilot and operations officer in Vietnam. His support unit was essential to U.S. forces fighting the intense battle of Ia Drang Valley in November 1965. Click the link below to hear him compare his homecoming from Southeast Asia to his experience with Honor Flight Syracuse.

“I lost one of my good buddies over there”
Army veteran Louis Gilbert served in Vietnam in 1965-66. He was among the only 12 members of his unit who made it home. Gilbert shares the heartbreaking story of one who didn’t. View the video below :

At the Vietnam Wall, Army infantry veteran Ronald Murray finds a familiar name
Check out Murray’s reflections at the wall in the video below:

“Very grateful that I made this trip”
His uncle was killed in action in Korea in 1950. 25 years later, Francis Jewels was on the USS Midway helping the Navy evacuate Vietnam. Jewels says the Honor Flight was “something I’ll always remember for the rest of my life.” View his story in the video below:

A final word from a humble veteran. David Bulterman spent the last full day of his life with Mission 20.
View the video below to share a moment of that day with David at the Vietnam Wall.

Dom Logan’s family says THANKS!
“Hello Wonderful people! My 92-year-old cousin & his 64-year-old son had a PHENOMENAL time on April 27, 2024. The love and respect they received all day long – from so many people – has them flying high and talking about the experience24/7. He was moved to tears all day long! Thank you to the hundreds of people who made our Vets feel so special!”

“His most memorable day with his dad”
Korean War veteran John Henderson flew Mission 10 in 2017 with son Dana by his side as guardian. John passed away this summer at the age of 94. Read how the Honor Flight touched John, Dana and their whole family in this moving letter from Debbie Henderson.

Thank You Andy Robinson!
All of the Mission 20 video stories in this newsletter and our inaugural Spring newsletter were shot, produced and edited by HFS volunteer Andy Robinson. We want to thank Andy for sharing his time, talent and years of professional experience with Honor Flight Syracuse.

The Power of a Single Letter
What brought this 5-th grader and her classmates together with Honor Flight veteran Jim Mason on Flag Day? Click here to read this letter from teacher Bill Cahill.

“20 for 20”
20 North Country veterans make Mission 20 a family affair. Read how the American Legion and Auxiliary made it such a special day for these veterans, in this story provided by Special Projects Chair Dianne Mosher of Auxiliary Unit 832, Cape Vincent.

Flags of Our Heroes
Lt. Frank W. Glasso passed away at the age of 54 in 1973. His daughter Glenda Alvarez sent us this picture so her dad could be honored as part of the “Flags of Our Heroes” program after Mission 19. “I truly wish that my Dad had lived long enough to be a part of the Honor Flights. I know he would have been so honored to be part of your amazing program.” See what “Flags” is all about by clicking the link below to watch the most recent ceremony, in Dexter on August 17. https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1V9jDfsmFw283Ib1fdzmI7oh49LvtJJXh?usp=sharing

TOMRA expands bottle and can fundraiser to year-round opportunity!
Make your local TOMRA Bottle and CanRedemption Center a regular stop with your empties all year long and support our next mission. See locations here.

Run or Walk with the Liverpool Elks on September 20-th and help Honor Flight Syracuse. Details here.