‘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.”