On behalf of Honor Flight Syracuse, President Kevin Bradley and Philanthropy Director Jeff Bastable recently accepted a generous estate gift from the Jean M. Breed Trust.  The gift is in memory of Jean’s beloved husband, World War Two Army veteran Clifton E. Breed of Central Square. 

Serving with the Army’s 716^th Tank Battalion in the Pacific Theatre, Breed helped liberate the Philippines in the Battle of Luzon. He passed away in 2007 at the age of 85 and never got the chance to be honored with other veterans by making the Honor Flight trip to Washington, D.C. to visit the national memorials dedicated to their service and sacrifice.  The generous gift to Honor Flight Syracuse is to ensure that other veterans continue to receive this honor in Clifton E. Breed’s memory starting with Mission 20 in April 2024.

Jean M. Breed passed away last year at age 92.  Thanks to her loving generosity and the diligence of Ellie Peavey, trustee for the Breed estate, the mission of Honor Flight Syracuse enters the New Year stronger than ever!  Peavey says that “Jean was the most generous and compassionate person I’ve ever known.”

Peavey presented the gift at Hillside Memorial Cemetery in Central Square, where the Breeds rest in peace.   The words above the Hillside chapel door say it all: “This prayer chapel is dedicated to our veterans who gave their last chapter in time for the first chapter of eternity.”