There’s a darn good reason why Dr. Susan Bastable is pictured here with Honor Flight Syracuse co-founder John Paddock as she was honored this summer by our board of directors. When the Rear Admiral (ret.) got to work to make HFS a reality in 2012, she was one of the first people he called. Paddock knew we’d need a strong medical component, and who would be better to found our Health and Safety team than Dr. Bastable? Already recognized as a leader in the field, Bastable had left her position as chair of the undergraduate nursing program at Upstate Medical University to found the Le Moyne College nursing program and forge a collaboration with St. Joseph’s Hospital’s College of Nursing. But Susan’s dedication to our mission didn’t stop there. When the HFS Health and Safety team was firmly established, she became the HFS Team Lead for the Honored Guest Program, which offers a special invitation to a group of people each mission to greet our veterans at the gate as they return from the trip to Washington. As Dr. Bastable now steps back from that lead role, Honor Flight Syracuse expresses our gratitude for her 14 years of tireless service for our veterans.
HFS President Kevin Bradley says Susan has been “an amazing contributor in support of veterans and this organization since our inception. Her passion and appreciation for their service are a fine example of what we all share.”
Always humble, Dr. Bastable said, “Being involved with Honor Flight Syracuse has been the best volunteer experience I have ever had. It is a privilege to pay tribute to our veterans and their families who deserve our unending gratitude for their service and sacrifice.”