One elderly Korean War veteran broke down in tears when he spoke of his gratitude to the Buffalo Niagara Honor Flight organizers in Bradford for remembering all veterans’ sacrifices.
The emotional testimonial was provided by Korean War veteran Charles “Bunky” Froman, who attended the Honor Flight luncheon at Bradford Area High School at noon Friday.
Forman and several other veterans from Warren joined veterans from the Bradford and Port Allegany areas to travel to Washington, D.C., Saturday for tours of war monuments and participate in ceremonies. It is the first time Warren veterans participated in the Buffalo Niagara program, said Bradford Area School District Superintendent Katharine Pude, who has promoted the program in the school district alongside Nancy Fire the past several years.
Honor Flights recruit local veterans for the program, with the school district sponsoring the luncheons and providing other amenities for the veterans.
The Honor Flight Network, a nonprofit organization, was created to honor America’s veterans for their sacrifices by transporting them to Washington for a day to visit war memorials free of charge. Local organizers of the Buffalo Niagara Honor Flight, who were at Friday’s event in Bradford, provide transportation for the veterans who are accompanied by medical personnel. Area veterans from the World War II, Korean and Vietnam eras, along with their relatives or guardians, have participated in past events. Participating veterans have not only hailed from local counties in Pennsylvania, but also from communities in New York state including Olean, Salamanca and Jamestown.
Tom Petrie, president of Buffalo Niagara Honor Flight, said it was the first time he and other officials from the Buffalo organization have visited the combined Bradford and Warren event, thanks to the efforts of Pude and Fire.
“Let me tell you, we have a very, very full day for you tomorrow,” Petrie told the vets and their guardians. “It’s a long overdue send-off, a long overdue welcome home and a big, two words, ‘Thank you’ for your service.”
Petrie said since the inception of the program, over 250,000 veterans have been taken to Washington by Honor Flight.
During the luncheon, Froman, a veteran from Warren, gave one of the more touching, unscripted addresses to the group.
“I’m one of the veterans going on this trip,” Froman said while sharing a few details of his Korean experience. “Many a night I said, ‘Lord, will I get home or not.
“When I came home, it was miserable, wet weather and nobody met me at the bus,” Froman lamented. “Nobody did much for us then.”
Consequently, he didn’t think there would be much of an Honor Flight ceremony for the veterans.
“It was wonderful what you people have done for us Korean vets and for others who are here today,” Froman said, before breaking down into tears. “My friends in Bradford, I want you to know that I’m one vet who came home today.”
Another veteran who wasn’t present, but was remembered for his service, was the late Daniel Stroup, a Westline native and Korean War veteran. Stroup had planned to travel with the Honor Flight group, but recently died. Petrie said Stroup’s family was presented an American flag and the Honor Flight group of veterans will carry his flag with them throughout their tour of Washington.
Other vets who commented on the event included Bradford resident Fred Keck, who served two tours of duty with the U.S. Navy during the Vietnam War. His daughter, Lisa Keck, planned to accompany him on the trip.
“It’s great that I’m going with my daughter,” he said. To that, Lisa Keck replied, “He’s been my guardian my entire life, I get to be his guardian today for this trip.”
Fred Keck’s granddaughter, Gabriella Campogiani, a student at the high school, was also at the luncheon to cheer her grandpa on.
Another participant, George Failey, a World War II Army veteran from Port Allegany, was accompanied by a family friend, Jan Brown.
“I’m very impressed, it shows that people are thoughtful,” Failey said of Honor Flight. “It’s a wonderful thing that they’re doing for veterans, and I’m sure they all appreciate it.”
Veteran Wilber Barber of Bradford, accompanied by Tom Malanowski, also participated in the event. Other Warren County veterans who made the trip were Gilbert Trask, Leota Jones and Leonard Kesterholt. The local vets will join 46 other veterans in Buffalo for the air flight to Washington. They will return to Buffalo late tonight.
During the luncheon ceremony, the Star Spangled Banner was sung by Gretchen Henneman of Bradford; the welcome address was provided by Linkin Girdlestone of Warren; and a proclamation was made by Bradford Mayor Tom Riel. Students with the Volunteer and Pride Club at the high school helped decorate the venue, and a number of enlisted students and prospective young military members attended the event.
The veterans left on a chartered bus that traveled past crowds of students waving flags at all four schools in the district, as well as past groups of people from Futures Rehabilitation Center, the Bradford Ecumenical Home and other businesses in the community. The Warren veterans were also cheered on by student and community groups in their area.
