The Bradford Area School District has been the host for veterans going on an Honor Flight for many years. Priority is given to WWII, Korean War veterans, and veterans with a catastrophic illness, followed by Vietnam War veterans and veterans from other conflicts.
BASD Superintendent Katy Pude is asking that any veteran in the region, McKean, Potter, Elk, or Cameron counties, submit an application directly to her at the administration office for the next flight. Drop off or mail applications to 150 Lorana Ave., Bradford PA 16701.
“April 27-28 will be the first overnight Honor Flight. We are looking for four or five veterans who have not gone on the trip and want to go,” Pude said. If you have already submitted an application, Pude would like you to contact her so she can make sure it goes through without a hitch, “call me directly at 814-362-3841.”
Pude remembers many of the attendees from previous trips, but one in particular tugged at her. “Wilbur Barber. He was the pastor at Hilltop,” she said. “He didn’t have any family when he went on the trip and we became friends. We would go to lunch and have book exchanges and he was one of those people you don’t forget.”
Bob Neumann, a teacher at the high school who attended an honor flight as an escort, has been instrumental in bringing more attention to the event this year. He said the trip was an emotional experience; one he will never forget. And because of his trip, his classes and the history department at the school, the students in grades nine through 12 are learning more about Honor Flight.
For his part, Neumann’s video production class will be interviewing veterans who have been on an Honor Flight. “We want to spread the fire, and the veterans who have gone on these trips look forward to sharing their experience and reflecting on what happened,” Neumann said.
He said that WIVB in Buffalo sent film from the trip he had gone on as well. That footage is going to be used in the classrooms and for the presentation the students are creating. Students will be tasked with going to area organizations to present information about Honor Flight. Neumann added, “we want to get the community involved, let them know this is available. We didn’t have anyone on the flight this fall. So, we thought we needed to go out into the community and get more veterans interested.”
The students in the Bradford area, Neumann said, want to take their energy and desire to show their appreciation to the veteran community, “they are very receptive, and Honor Flight is one of the events they look forward to. So many have a personal connection because they have a relative in the military.”
Between what the students learn in their history classes, and the program that Neumann’s students are putting together, a presentation is planned for social media. “Our aim and intention is to highlight members who have been on the trips and encourage others to sign up,” Neumann said. The presentation should be ready for publication in February.
Pude added there will be a fundraiser at the beginning of the year, however, donations are accepted all year long. The presentation from Neumann’s students will be on social media well before the fundraiser, he said.
If anyone in the region has attended an Honor Flight and would like to share their experience with the students of Neumann’s class, email him at rneumann@bradfordareaschools.org
Buffalo Niagara Honor Flight plans to take all veterans on future missions; however, the mission to get veterans from WWII, the Korean War, and those who fought in Vietnam to see the monuments and memorials made in their honor is an urgent one.
