The 2024 Fall Honor Flight, after much anticipation, has come and gone – but spectacular memories will linger in the hearts and minds of each Veteran who participated.
Joining the Buffalo Niagara Honor Flight from Chautauqua County were five Veterans and their travel buddies.
After a couple of trial runs in changing the one-day trip to a two-day trip, the Honor Flight has permanently switched to a two-day trip to make a more relaxed experience for the sake of the Veterans and all involved.
On Saturday, October 5, these Honor Flight Veterans joined the rest of the Vets for a Meet and Greet brunch in Buffalo, where they enjoyed learning what to expect during the October 12 to 13 flight. This same group of Veterans, travel companions and many Honor Flight Volunteers came together again at 8am on October 12 to begin their “Trip of a Lifetime”, visiting the War Memorials on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. Due to added time in the Honor Flight schedule it was possible to tour historic areas of Washington by bus and learn surprising details from the historian guides.
When their plane arrived in Buffalo on the evening of the 13th, a large gathering of well-wishers awaited their arrival and treated them to a joyous “WELCOME HOME” that most had never had at the end of their service to our country. As you can imagine, they were amazed and very touched at the outpouring of respect and honor.
If you are a Veteran or have a Veteran in your family or circle of friends, you can learn more about the application process by calling Barb Cessna at 716-664-6256.
