Despite some rain, an early morning flight and long days of traveling around Washington, D.C. to visit war memorials, veteran Bill Hurrle wouldn’t have traded his Honor Flight experience for anything.
Hurrle, a Korean War veteran from Lewis Run who traveled to the nation’s capital last fall as an Honor Flight participant, recently shared some of the highlights of that excursion.The Buffalo Niagara Honor Flight program, which partners with the Bradford Area School District, will conduct another flight and tour of the war memorials in Washington on May 4, said Superintendent Katharine Pude of the school district.
Pude said there is still room available for additional World War II and Korean Veterans from McKean County. The free program for veterans has been conducted in Bradford the past few years.
“The experience has been absolutely wonderful for both the veterans who have made the trip and for our students who learn more about the sacrifices that were made for their freedom,” Pude said. In providing details on the upcoming flight, Pude said a bus will leave from Bradford on May 3 and all veterans and their guardians, or a family member or friend who will accompany them, will spend the night in Buffalo before embarking on the flight the morning of May 4.
“There is no cost for veterans to attend, but there is a cost for their guardian, for which support is available, if needed,” Pude said.
She said any veteran or family member “interested in this incredible experience, or who just would like more information,” may contact the school district offices or log onto the Buffalo Niagara Honor Flight website buffaloniagarahonorflight.org. She said the deadline for applying for the next flight is Friday.
For Hurrle, the flight on Oct. 20 with his grandson Darren Hilmes serving as his guardian, was a trip he enjoyed and won’t forget. Other local Korean War veterans who traveled to Washington with Hurrle were James Dushaw and Dave Steinhauser.
“It’s the camaraderie with the veterans” that make it worthwhile, Hurrle said. “You get to know them and spend both days with them, so it’s well worth that.”
Hurrle said after leaving Bradford for Buffalo, he and his grandson stayed in a hotel the first night, and then caught an early flight the following morning to Baltimore, Md.
“We had a very big reception at the airport in Baltimore by everybody there,” Hurrle recalled. “It seemed like everybody joined in – it was rather touching.”
From there, buses took the Honor Flight participants to the Washington memorials, which lasted all day.
Hurrle said that while the days were long, the veterans didn’t have to walk that much as they could use wheelchairs that were pushed by their guardians or others.
“You almost have to ride in wheelchair wherever you go because they keep you moving all day long,” Hurrle explained. “When we went to the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and saw the Changing of the Guard, every vet was in a wheelchair.”
While wheelchairs are not mandatory to use, Hurrle said they made the touring much easier for all involved. During one stop for their evening meal, the veterans received large envelopes containing letters of gratitude from school children
The veterans returned to the Buffalo airport later that same night where they were greeted by a Bagpipes and Drum Corp group.
“Again, there were people galore” at the airport, Hurrle said.”It was well worth it.”
