Category: Latest News
Selfless Among Us: How Tom Petrie Honors Heroes, One Flight at a Time
2 WGRZ
Melissa Holmes
BUFFALO, N.Y. — On Father’s Day weekend in 2013, Tom Petrie thought he was simply going to the airport to support a good cause. His daughter Heather had invited him to greet a group of veterans returning from an Honor Flight—part of a national network of flights that brings aging veterans to Washington, D.C., to visit the memorials built in their honor.
He had no idea that visit would change the course of his life.
“I was all in,” he recalls of that first experience. “Once I saw them come home, the expressions on their faces, the welcome home they got—it touched my heart in a way I hadn’t expected.”
That heartfelt spark grew into a decade-long commitment. Today, Petrie serves as the volunteer President of the Board of Directors for Buffalo Niagara Honor Flight, a nonprofit hub in a national network that has transported over 100,000 veterans to Washington. Under Tom’s leadership, the Buffalo Niagara chapter alone has flown more than 1,000 local veterans to their long-overdue recognition.
Honor Flight: Wisconsin WWII veteran takes lifetime trip at age 100
MILWAUKEE – It’s a day made especially for Wisconsin veterans; to remember, to honor, to reflect.
Trip of a lifetime
What we know:
On a Saturday morning in late April, a mighty group of the bravest Wisconsinites boarded a plane in Milwaukee, bound for our nation’s capital.
“How does it feel?” FOX6 News asked Freddie Stachoviak, one of the 114 veterans on Mission #79.
“Pretty good,” Freddie responded. “It’s one of the things on my bucket list.”
Freddie Stachoviak is fine to blend in with this crowd. In fact, he would prefer it. But at 100 years old, he’s the sole member of this Honor Flight representing the Greatest Generation. It’s a chapter of his life he remembers well.
Trenton veteran, 92, has time of his life on Honor Flight to Washington, D.C.
The News Herald
Jackie Martin
“That was the best trip I’ve taken in my life,” Bob Williams, a retired veteran of the U.S. Air Force, said of a flight reserved strictly for those who served in the military.
Williams, a 92-year-old Trenton resident, recently took the trip with about 70 other veterans.
It was organized through the Mid-Michigan Honor Flight Organization.
According to one of his daughters, Rhonda Janice, of Brownstown Twp., the family knew this would be the trip of a lifetime for him — and it didn’t fall short of expectations.
Rhonda Janice traveled to Washington, D.C. with her father, Bob Williams, 92, a retired member of the U.S. Air Force. The trip for veterans was organized through the Mid-Michigan Honor Flight Organization and more than 70 veterans . (Photo courtesy of the Williams family)
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The flight departed out of Flint Bishop International Airport.
Veterans honored with trip to D.C. for Honor Flight Rochester
News10NBC
Rochester Honor Flight flew 62 veterans on its Mission 89, including 52 veterans of the Vietnam War. Since 2008, Honor Flight Rochester has flown over 4,500 veterans, funded entirely by the community.
This is Rochester Honor Flight’s second mission of the year, with four more planned for 2025. The missions have been described as the trip of a lifetime.
Over 100 veterans head to D.C. on Honor Flight Northland
WDIO
A sunny send off for the 100 veterans and about 50 volunteers who headed out on Honor Flight Northland on Saturday morning from the Duluth airport.
A sunny send off for the 100 veterans and about 50 volunteers who headed out on Honor Flight Northland on Saturday morning from the Duluth airport.
Now part of the Duluth Area Chamber of Commerce, the event brings veterans to Washington D.C. for one day, to see their war memorils.
Members of the 148th Fighter Wing helped send them off. So did the Duluth Honor Guard and the Patriot Guard.
Charlie Olson is an 89-year-old Air Force vet from Aurora. “I’ve never been to D.C.,” he told us. “And I never thought I’d get to go.”
Two other veterans on the flight are married. Becky and James Robertshaw met while in the Army. “We just celebrated 50 years of marriage,” she shared.
James said they heard about Honor Flight from a friend, who raved about it. “We are elated and honored, seriously,” he said.
‘It’s living history’: Buffalo-Niagara Honor Flight Mission 19
WIVB.com
Jordan Norkus
WASHINGTON, D.C. (WIVB) — On a cool spring morning, 35 local heroes from the World War II, Korean, Vietnam and Cold War eras set off to the nation’s capital for the trip of a lifetime.
Buffalo-Niagara Honor Flight takes veterans on all-expenses-paid trips to Washington, D.C. throughout the year to see the memorials built to commemorate their courage. News 4 anchor Jordan Norkus and photojournalist Allison Staebell had the special privilege of joining them on Mission 19.
“They’re building that camaraderie again, they’re exchanging stories and it’s quite an emotional thing to see when these guys are talking,” said Buffalo-Niagara Honor Flight president Tom Petrie. “They’ve just met each other and they’re like old friends.”
“It’s so grand to be with my veteran friends. I made a lot of pals here,” said Navy veteran Timothy Trost. “No matter what branch you’re in, everyone has their great stories and that’s the most fun. We’re a big club.”
Chance discovery turns into treasured friendship for 2 Utah Honor Flight vets
KSL.com
Mike Anderson
SALT LAKE CITY — Over 70 Utah veterans are in Washington, D.C., for the 50th Utah Honor Flight.
When a unique group of individuals comes together like this, it means that some special stories and friendships develop while visiting historic sites.
“The first Black general?” Jim Hayes asked Merrill Wells, referring to a general they knew while serving.
“Yes,” Wells responded.
“In the United States Army,” Hayes said.
The two veterans were at one of the many historical sites in Washington and talked about how they knew the same people while serving in the Vietnam War, like General Benjamin O. Davis.
Day 2 of Honor Flight makes veterans emotional
Valley News Live
Harrison Pray
WASHINGTON D.C. (Valley News Live) – Former servicemen shared their most personal memories on Monday, April 21.
“It’s real to me. Originally it was North Korea that we were in. It’s just memories,” said Leland Anderson, a veteran who shed a few tears when sharing his time in the military.
While in North Korea, Anderson worked in heavy infantry. He drove anything from Jeeps to 5-ton trucks. He felt very fortunate to be trusted to drive around several high-ranking officers.
For one army veteran, his career will never be forgotten as he was a prisoner for 4 years in the Vietnam War.
“January 14, 1969 I had a bad day. I got into that ambush,” said Gary Guggenberger.
Gary was a 5-ton truck driver. He admits that on that day, he took a bad route as him and his soldiers got ambushed 10 miles north of Saigon, Vietnam.
Local heroes return: Asheville welcomes veterans from Blue Ridge Honor Flight to DC
ABC13 News
Kimberly King
ASHEVILLE, N.C. (WLOS) — More than 350 people gathered at the Asheville airport in a hangar to welcome home 99 veterans who had flown on the Blue Ridge Honor Flight to Washington, D.C., on the night of April 19. Despite some delays with the chartered Allegiant plane landing, everyone remained with their flags, banners and welcome home signs. The atmosphere was joyous, and the veterans were extremely appreciative of the warm welcome. Out of the 99 veterans, 88 served in Vietnam, including several women, along with a World War II veteran and Korean War veterans.
Dozens of Central Florida veterans embark on honor flight to DC
Wesh 2
Paola Tristan Arruda
SANFORD, Fla. —
Dozens of Central Florida veterans took a special honor flight to Washington, D.C., organized by Villages Honor Flight.
“I’m here to enjoy the honor flight and go to Washington, D.C., and look up some of my friends on the Vietnam wall,” said Robert Kerfin, an Army veteran.
Roughly 153 passengers, comprised of military veterans, guardians, and staff, boarded an Allegiant flight on Wednesday.
“This is just a wonderful thing to give back to the veterans. I mean, we live in a free country because of our veterans, and that’s the least we can do to give back,” said Bob Siano, Flight Director for this Villages Honor Flight mission.
The oldest passenger on this mission is 93-year-old Richard Schlosser.
“I was in the Air Force from 1950 to 1964, right during the middle of the Korean War. I never had to go to Korea because I was needed in the United States. You only get one shot at this, you know, you get one chance to do it. And I feel like at my age, I better do it now,” said Schlosser, an Air Force veteran.