From time to time, a veteran on our waiting list to fly has a significant downturn in their health, preventing them from making the trip to Washington. On such occasions, volunteers with Honor Flight Syracuse may have the opportunity to visit the veteran in their home, and offer personal gratitude for their service to our country. One such visit was made last March, at the home of Vietnam veteran Keith Braudrick, two weeks before Keith passed away. Candina Harmer of our Health and Safety team made the visit and shared this account of that special time with Keith and his family:

”On March 30, 2025 I had the honor to complete an Honor at Home for Keith Braudrick. Keith was originally scheduled to join us on Mission 22, however, a drastic decline in his health made it impossible for him to join us. I was able to spend an hour with him, his wife, 4 of their children and some of their grandchildren to honor his service and hear some of his stories. 

His smile in these photos does not do justice to how happy he was when I arrived. I assisted his family in getting his Veteran shirt on and they said he’d probably end up sleeping with it on because he’d never want to take it off. 

Keith Braudrick is a Navy Vietnam veteran who served from August 15, 1968 – May 14, 1972. 

He had two west PAC deployments in 1970 and 1972 with the VA 192 aboard the USS Kitty Hawk. Keith was a supervisor of aviation electronics class and went on to receive a US Naval Commendation for keeping the planes in fast working order during the Vietnam War. 

During my visit, I learned how individuals in the Navy are pollywogs until they cross the Equator and then change to squids. Keith was within 24 hours of crossing the Equator, and becoming a squid, when they had orders to turn around; he never became a squid before leaving service. Keith has 2 sons that also served in the military and they have made sure to tell that story to everyone that comes to visit him – we all had a good laugh about it including Keith. 

We also talked about the patches on his military jacket, one of which was for the VA-192 World Famous Golden Dragons. This is for the Strike Fighter Squadron 192 that was aboard the USS Kitty Hawk during his west PAC deployments and his assistance in keeping the planes in top shape for the combat strikes that occurred. 

Before I left, I presented Keith with his challenge coin for completion of his mission. He held onto it tightly until I took photos. If you zoom in and look closely, you’ll see it resting on his chest just under the word Syracuse. 

My sincere heartfelt thanks to everyone who played a part in this honor at home being able to take place so quickly with Keith’s decline. His wife also sends her thanks to everyone – she couldn’t believe that we would take time out of our schedules to complete this for their family and has said that it was the highlight of his day.”