Page 36 - September Banner 2017_Neat

Page 36 September 2017
Our Neighborhood Veterans
by Andrea Myers Mannix - A Thurmont native, who resides in New Paltz, New York
Huds o n Valle y Ho no r 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
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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 served
in the Air Force; he 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
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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 Francis Farnsworth and Andrea Myers Mannix, entering the
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
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Photo Courtesy of Everett Collie
airport greeting line.
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!
… Story continued on page 37