Our Neighborhood Veterans

by Andrea Myers Mannix – A Thurmont native, who resides in New Paltz, New York Hudson Valley Honor Flight – Honoring America’s Military Veterans In Washington, D.C., Saturday, April 8, 2017, it was a beautiful, early spring day with clear blue skies. This was the day that I served as a guardian to accompany ninety-one-year-old World War II Navy Veteran, Francis Farnsworth of Woodstock, New York, on Hudson Valley Honor Flight’s Mission 15. Hudson Valley Honor Flight (HVHF) is a 501c3 nonprofit organization that “Honors American Veterans” for all of their sacrifices, and transports these heroes to Washington, D.C. to visit their memorials, at no cost to them.  As a local hub of the National Honor Flight Network, which consists of over one hundred independent non-profit hubs in forty-five states, HVHF flies multiple times a year out of both Newburgh New York’s Stewart International Airport and Westchester County New York Airport. HVHF serves Veterans from its seven surrounding counties. Mission 15 consisted of ninety military Veterans of WWII, the Korean War, and several terminally-ill Vietnam Veterans, who traveled with their guardians, along with HVHF’s volunteers, safety/medical team, and staff. My experience with the Honor Flight started in Summer 2016, when I submitted a guardian application, as I had read several local newspaper articles about the organization and its past honor flights. This was an experience in which I wanted to participate.  Guardians pay a fee for their flight, while Veterans deservingly have no cost. In early March 2017, I was notified that I had been selected as a guardian (or “guardian angel” as Francis referred to me!). Next, I received a letter with my Veteran’s name, Francis, and his phone number. I called Francis, introduced myself, and we talked for a while. On March 18, 2017, I visited Francis at his home that he shares with his daughter and grandson. Over coffee and muffins, Francis showed me on a map where he served in the Pacific in WWII. His late twin brother, Frank, was also a WWII Veteran, and passed away several years ago. Francis shared his WWII experience with me, as well as many old family photos. We had a wonderful visit. All guardians were also required to attend an Orientation Session, where we learned about the Hudson Valley Honor Flight history and mission, and our role as a guardian on flight day. On March 26, 2017, a “Meet & Greet” event was held for all the guardians and Veterans who would be on Mission 15; we also met our bus leaders and safety team members. In two weeks, we would be going on our Honor Flight! Finally, April 8, 2017, arrived, and in the early morning, I drove us to the Shop Rite grocery store in Montgomery, New York. Shop Rite is a major sponsor of HVHF. A police escort and a procession of over one hundred and fifty motorcycles—many driven by military Veterans—led the way for our coach busses to take us from Shop Rite to Newburgh’s Stewart International Airport. The Vails Gate Fire Company had both of its fire truck’s ladders fully extended, with an American flag flying underneath, as our busses passed under it. Upon arrival at Stewart Airport, cadet candidates from West Point were lined up and saluted. Bagpipers played, and people were outside welcoming the Veterans with signs and waving American flags! As we exited our busses, we walked through a processional area lined with military Veterans, holding American flags. These Veterans shook Francis’ hand, thanked him for his service, and wished us a great day in Washington, D.C. A pre-flight patriotic ceremony was held inside Stewart Airport, and we then proceeded to board our American Airlines charter flight. Our plane was decorated inside with red, white, and blue decorations, and everyone was very excited. A little over an hour later, our plane arrived at Reagan National Airport, with a water cannon salute. As Francis and I walked up the jetway, we could hear the crowd cheering, and I said to Francis, “Those cheers are for you and all the military Veterans!” Many greeters were at the gate. Then we met Buzz Aldrin, the second man to walk on the moon in July 1969. As we walked through the airport, people stood up and applauded, then shook Francis’ hand and thanked him for his service to our country. Our busses in Washington, D.C., were escorted by the Park Police, and our first stop was the WWII Memorial. Former Senator Bob Dole of Kansas, who was instrumental in getting the WWII Memorial built, shook Veterans’ hands and spoke with us. Our next stops were the Korean War Memorial, Vietnam Memorial, and the Lincoln Memorial, where a Veterans’ group photo was taken. Francis’ birthday is the same day as Abraham Lincoln’s, so he enjoyed spending time inside the memorial by Lincoln’s statue and reading the Gettysburg Address and Lincoln’s Second Inauguration Speech, which are inscribed on the memorial’s inside walls. Our last stop was Arlington National Cemetery for the very moving Changing of the Guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. Our busses then drove past the Iwo Jima Memorial, as we headed for dinner near Reagan National Airport. We boarded our plane, saying goodbye to Washington, D.C., after a wonderful day. One more surprise was in store for all the military Veterans: mail call! Family and friends, local schools and organizations, all had helped to make, or gather, cards for the Veterans ahead of time. One of the HVHF staff members spoke on the plane’s loudspeaker, and announced each Veteran’s name for mail call. A big envelope full of cards and greetings were thoroughly enjoyed by each Veteran. We arrived at Stewart Airport around 9:00 p.m., after a day full of many memories. Francis was handed a patriotic quilt as a keepsake. Crowds of local citizens were inside the airport to welcome us home, and our local New Paltz Boy Scout Troop 172 had a dozen scouts and leaders in attendance for Francis and me! I was very honored and proud to be part of this once-in-a-lifetime patriotic experience, and to watch throughout the day as people showed their respect and thanked our military Veterans. A huge thank you goes out to the Hudson Valley Honor Flight officers, board of directors, staff, and volunteers, who ran a first-class, well-organized memorable experience for Veterans and their guardians. For more information: Mission 15’s April 8, 2017 photo slideshow and 10-minute video: www.hvhonorflight.com/media/; Maryland’s Honor Flight website:  www.honorflightmd.org/hf/; information on how citizens can greet honor flights arriving at Reagan National Airport: www.honorflightdca.org; and National Honor Flight Network at www.honorflight.org. Francis Farnsworth and Andrea Myers Mannix, entering the airport greeting line. Francis Farnsworth, Andrea Myers Mannix, and Senator Bob Dole are shown at the WWII Memorial in Washington, D.C.