TOM DOOLEY CHORALIERS ♪ ♪ >> HELLO, I'M DAN CUMMINGS, AND I'M SO PROUD TO WELCOME YOU TO THIS SPECIAL PROGRAM ON WCNY.

AS WE WELCOME HOME HONOR FLIGHT SYRACUSE MISSION 21.

EARLY IN THE MORNING ON SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, MORE THAN 80 MILITARY VETERANS BOARDED AN AMERICAN AIRLINES CHARTER JET FOR A ONE-DAY ROUND TRIP TO WASHINGTON D.C.

THE MISSION?

TO GIVE THESE VETERANS A DAY, AT NO COST TO THEM, A DAY TO VISIT THE MEMORIALS BUILT TO HONOR THEIR SERVICE AND SACRIFICE.

AFTER A FULL DAY IN OUR NATION'S CAPITOL, THE VETERANS RETURNED IN THE EARLY EVENING TO A WATER CANNON SALUTE ON THE RUNWAY, FOLLOWED BY A PARADE AND WELCOME HOME CEREMONY AT HANCOCK INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT, ALL OF IT IN THEIR HONOR.

WE'LL TAKE YOU TO THAT PARADE SHORTLY.

BUT FIRST LET'S SET THE TABLE BY HEARING MORE ABOUT HONOR FLIGHT SYRACUSE FROM THE TWO INDIVIDUALS WHO GOT IT STARTED.

THE CO-FOUNDERS.

UAL HEAR FROM RANDY FLATH AS SHE SPOKE WITH TYS.

AND A PORTION OF MY INTERVIEW WITH REAR ADMIRAL JOHN PADDOCK AS WE PREPARED TO WELCOME HOME MISSION 19.

ADMIRAL, LET ME ASK YOU THIS.

THIS IS A SPECIAL MISSION.

THEY'RE ALWAYS SPECIAL.

I MEAN YOU TALKED ABOUT WORLD WAR II AND VIETNAM.

I THINK WHEN THE EARLY FLIGHTS WENT, MISSIONS 1, 2, 3, THEY WERE FULL OF WORLD WAR II VETERANS.

THIS MISSION 19 THAT IS ABOUT TO LAND AND YOU ARE GOING TO SEE THE PARADE THAT WELCOMES THEM HOME, MISSION 19 HAD 64 VIETNAM VETERANS.

I THINK 14 FROM KOREA AND ONE FROM WORLD WAR II.

>> YES, IT'S ALWAYS A LITTLE BITTERSWEET.

THERE ARE DIFFERENT EXPERIENCES IN THESE FLIGHTS IN HOW PEOPLE, WORLD WAR II WERE FOR THE DURATION, THE VIETNAM WAR FOLKS, MANY OF THEM WENT FOR THE ONE-YEAR, ONE AND DONE KIND OF SITUATION THAT WAS A DIFFERENT ATMOSPHERE HERE POLITICALLY, CULTURALLY AND DIFFERENT TIMES.

SO IT'S ALWAYS A VERY REWARDING EXPERIENCE AND I LIKE TO SAY ALL OUR VETERANS THAT HAVE BEEN ON THESE FLIGHTS HAVE VERY MUCH ENJOYED IT.

I AM THE KEEPER OF THE BAD REPORTS AND THE COMPLAINTS.

AND I TELL EVERYBODY AND SO FAR I HAVE HAD THAT MANY COMPLAINTS.

>> ZERO.

IN 10 YEARS GOING ON LISTEN.

>> SO IT HAS BEEN A VERY SUCCESSFUL PROGRAM.

THANKS TO LARGELY THE COMPANIES, THE OTHER ORGANIZATIONS, THE PEOPLE OF OUR CENTRAL NEW YORK COMMUNITY.

>> THE SPONSORS.

>> THE PEOPLE HAVE COME FORWARD TO HELP OUT WITH THIS PROGRAM.

IT HAS BEEN INCREDIBLE.

>> BECAUSE THE VETERANS PAY NOTHING TO GO TO WASHINGTON, NOT A PENNY.

IT'S ALL FROM PRIVATE MONEY AND DONATIONS THAT YOU HAVE MADE IN SO MANY WAYS OVER THE YEARS AND I MEAN PEOPLE HERE AROUND CENTRAL NEW YORK, NORTHERN NEW YORK AND THE MOHAWK VALLEY.

>> I WOULD LIKE TO INTRODUCE RANDY FLATH, CO-FOUNDER OF HONOR FLIGHT.

RANDY, HOW DID THIS START?

HOW DID YOU GET THIS STARTED IN ZEUS SYRACUSE?

>> I STARTED BACK PROBABLY BACK IN 2009.

I WENT WITH MY FATHER AS A GUARDIAN ON THE HON FLOOR FLIGHT OUT OF ROCHESTER.

I SAW HOW MUCH IT MEANT TO THE VETERANS AND THE PEOPLE THERE AND THOUGHT GEE, WHY COULDN'T WE GET SOMETHING LIKE THAT STARTED IN SYRACUSE?

CENTRALLY LOCATED, SO ON AND SO FORTH.

I TALKED TO THE PRESIDENT AT THE TIME OUT THERE, VINCE HOPE WAS HIS NAME.

AND HE SAID, I'LL TELL YOU WHAT.

JUST GO AND TALK TO THE VF WALL STREET, GO TO THE AMERICAN LEGIONS AND THE ROTARY CLUBS AND TELL THEM YOUR STORY.

MARK MY WORDS, IT WILL BE LIKE A SNOWBALL ROLLING DOWNHILL.

AND HERE WE ARE.

>> WHAT DID I SEE-- WHEN YOU TOOK YOUR DAD, WHAT WAS IT LIKE FOR BOTH HIM AND YOU?

>> IT WAS VERY ENLIGHTENING?

MY DAD AT THE TIME WAS IN HIS 80S AND SEEING HIM GET TOGETHER WITH THESE OTHER VETERANS, THEY ACTED LIKE TEENAGERS AGAIN.

IT WAS LIKE A FOUNTAIN OF YOUTH, YOU KNOW, TALKING ABOUT THINGS THAT THEY DID THINGS THAT HAPPENED AND A LOT OF IT I NEVER HEARD OF.

HE DIDN'T TALK ABOUT IT.

SO WHEN HE WAS WITH HIS COLLEAGUES AND OTHER VETERANS, HE OPENED UP AND HE, UNTIL HIS LAST DAY, TALKED ABOUT THE HONOR FLIGHT EVERY DAY, YOU KNOW, AND HOW GREAT IT WAS.

SO I'M REALLY GLAD THAT HE WAS ABLE TO GO.

SADLY SOME OF THESE VETERANS PASSED BEFORE THEY WERE ABLE TO GO.

WE HAVE A PROGRAM CALLED FLAGS OF OUR HEROES WHERE WE CAN TAKE A PICTURE OF THE VETERAN DOWN TO WASHINGTON WITH US.

WE HAVE A CASE WITH A FLAG IN IT AND SET IT UP AT THE WAR NOMINEE WHERE THE VETERANS-- WAR MEMORIAL WHERE THE VETERAN SERVED, TAKE A PHOTO AND HAVE A CEREMONY TO PRESENT TO THE FAMILY WITH A CERTIFICATE.

AND THAT REALLY MEANS A LOT TO THESE FAMILIES, TOO.

SO IT HAS GROWN SO MUCH IN THE PAST 12 YEARS.

>> LOOK HOW MANY PEOPLE COME.

>> INCREDIBLE.

>> IT REALLY SHOWS WHAT THE COMMUNITY IS LIKE HERE, THE GREATER SYRACUSE AREA, TOO.

>> DEFINITELY.

VERY VETERAN CONSCIOUS, VERY VETERAN BASED.

THE COMPANIES THAT HAVE JUMPED ON BOARD, SRC INCORPORATED WAS THE FIRST COMPANY THAT HELPED US OUT.

WE HAD A PLANE DONATED BY AMERICAN EAGLE.

WE HAD 27 VETERANS AT THAT TIME.

SRC FADE FOR THE-- PAID FOR THE FUEL.

THAT GOT US OFF THE GROUND LITERALLY AND FIGURATIVELY.

AND AFTER THAT, OTHER PEOPLE JUMPED ON BOARD.

MNT BANK, LeMOYNE COLLEGE, OBVIOUSLY, EQUITABLE, WHICH WAS A DP-- AXA AT THE TIME.

>> THERE IS NO MONEY FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

THIS IS ALL PRIVATELY.

>> ALL PRIVATELY RAISED.

IT COSTS A LOT OF MONEY TO DO A TRIP.

WE DO TWO A YEAR, FILL THE PLANES, 82 VETERANS EACH TIME AND YOU KNOW, EACH MISSION IS A LITTLE BIT BETTER.

WE HAVE CLEAR PATH FOR VETERANS HAS ONE OF THEIR CANINES ON OUR FLIGHT FOR THE SECOND TIME, SERVICE DOG BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, THE VIETNAM VETERANS, SOME OF THEM ARE PROBABLY GOING TO HAVE A TOUGH TIME.

BUT MAYBE THIS WILL HELP HEAL SOME WOUNDS.

>> DO YOU SEE THAT?

DO YOU SEE THAT WITH ANY OF THE VETS BUT PARTICULARLY THE VIETNAM VETS?

>> I DO.

I HAVE SEEN SOME THAT COULDN'T GET OUT OF THE BUS, THAT WOULDN'T GO TO THE WALL, TOO MANY FRIENDS THERE, SO ON AND SO FORTH.

OTHER COMES BACK AND SAY THIS IS THE WELCOME HOME THAT I NEVER GOT.

AFTER 50 SOME ODD YEARS.

IT'S VERY EMOTIONAL.

EYE I'VE HEARD SO MANY STORIES.

I HEARD A STORY TODAY THAT A VETERAN WHO WENT ON OUR MISSION TWO TRIPS AGO, HE WENT TWO YEARS AGO AND ASKED TO BE BURIED WITH LIST T-SHIRT ON WHEN HE PASSED AWAY.

>> IT REALLY SHOWS YOU, I BELIEVE THAT NO COUNTRY RECOGNIZES THEIR VETERANS LIKE THIS COUNTRY DOES.

>> I AGREE.

100 HERS.

>> WHAT YOU ARE DOING REALLY SHOWS THAT IN CLEAR RED, WHITE AND BLUE.

>> THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

>> YOU DO.

AND SO WHEN THEY FINISH THIS EXPERIENCE, HAVE THEY-- DO THEY TELL YOU ABOUT IT?

WHAT DO THEY SAY WHEN THEY FINISH THAT EXPERIENCE?

>> WE'VE GOTTEN LETTERS, THANK YOU CARDS, SO ON AND SO FORTH.

SOME OF THEM WANT TO VOLUNTEER AND DO COME OUT AND HELP OUT, YOU KNOW, THERE WAS A VETERAN HERE THIS MORNING GUIDING PEOPLE WHERE THEY NEEDED TO GO THAT WENT ON ONE OF OUR MISSIONS TWO OR THREE YEARS AGO AND HE LOVES IT.

IT'S A WAY TO GIVE BACK TO US, WHICH IS GREAT.

AND IT MEANS A LOT.

>> IF SOMEONE WATCHING WANTS TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS, IF THEY KNOW A VETERAN OR IF A VETERAN WANTS TO DO THAT, HOW DO THEY DO HAT?

>> OUR WEBSITE WWW.HORRORFLIGHT SYRACUSE.ORG, THERE IS A LINK ON THERE FOR BOTH VETERANS OR VOLUNTEERS OR TO MAKE A DONATION.

I MEAN OBVIOUSLY IT DOES TAKE A LOT OF MONEY TO DO SOMETHING LIKE THIS.

AND WE HAVE GOT A LOT OF BACKLOG.

LAST I HEARD WE HAD OVER 500 VETERANS ON OUR WAIT LIST.

WE CAN ONLY TAKE 82 ON A PLANE.

SO WE TAKE TWO TRIPS A YEAR AND WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT POSSIBLY MOVING INTO THREE.

SO, YEAH, BECAUSE IT'S A RACE AGAINST TIME.

>> THE VAST MAJORITY OF THE VETERANS WHO TAKE THE HONOR FLIGHT THESE DAYS SERVED IN THE VIETNAM ERA.

OTHERS SERVED IN KOREA, THE COLD WAR, DESERT STORM AND THE WAR ON TERROR.

SAFE TO SAY FEW, IF ANY OF THEM, ESPECIALLY THOSE WHO FOUGHT IN VIETNAM, EVER RECEIVED A PROPER AND GRATEFUL WELCOME HOME.

QUITE THE CONTRARY.

HONOR FLIGHT SYRACUSE DOES ITS BEST TO CORRECT THAT BY INVITING FAMILY, FRIENDS AND ANYONE WHO LOVES OUR VETERANS TO BE ON HAND AT HANCOCK AIRPORT WHEN THE FLIGHT ARRIVES BACK HOME FROM WASHINGTON.

THIS IS WHAT THAT LOOKED LIKE WHEN MISSION 21 LANDED ON SEPTEMBER 28.

♪ ♪ ♪ E9.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ [ CHEERING ] ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN IF I COULD HAVE YOUR ATTENTION IF NOT FOR ONE REASON ONLY TO EXPRESS THE GRATITUDE THAT I KNOW YOU ALL FEEL, THAT'S WHY YOU ARE HERE, FOR THE VETERANS WHO SIT AMONG US, THE GUARDIANS WHO ACCOMPANIED THEM, THE VETERANS OF HONOR FLIGHT MISSION 2 IS, WELCOME HOME.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE.

>> I USED TO BE A NEWS REPORTER SO I CAN STILL DELIVER THE NEWS ONCE IN A WHILE.

MY NAME IS DAN CUMMINGS BY THE WAY.

IT'S GOOD TO BE HERE AND I HAVE IN FOUSE FOR YOU THAT SHOULD BE VERY WELCOME TO EVERYBODY SEATED IN FRONTS OF ME AND EVERYBODY WHO LOVES OUR VETERANS.

I WAS NOT IN WASHINGTON WITH YOU TODAY BUT I'M TOLD IT WAS A RATHER WARM DAY AS IN 90° ON THE GROUND AND A VERY LONG AND HOT DAY, TWO OF OUR MISSION 21 VETERANS NEEDED A LITTLE EXTRA MEDICAL ATTENTION ON THE GROUND IN WASHINGTON AND THEY GOT IT NOT ONLY FROM THE CRACK HEALTH AND SAFETY TEAM VOLUNTEERS OF HONOR FLIGHT SYRACUSE, THE NURSES THAT HAVE SERVED SO WELL AND SO LONG, BUT ALSO THEY NEEDED A LITTLE ADDITIONAL HELP FROM E.M.T.

CREWS AND WONDERFUL HOSPITALS IN THE NATION'S CAPITOL BUT THE GOOD NEWS THAT I CAN BREAK FOR YOU TONIGHT IS THAT I HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT DONALD, NAVY VETERAN WHO SERVED IN KOREA AND GENE OUGHTEDRY STILLWELL TO SERVED US IN VIETNAM IN THE ARMY HAVE BEEN RELEASED FROM THE HOSPITAL THIS EVENING AND ABOUT TO BOARD AIRCRAFT TO COME HOME TO SYRACUSE TONIGHT.

[ APPLAUSE ] >> I AGREE, GOOD NEWS INDEED.

WELL, YOU HEARD THEM WARMING UP WITH THE TUNES FROM THE EMERALD ISLE, A LITTLE EXTRA CONSORT FROM THE TOM DOOLEYCHORALIERS BUT WE ARE GOING TO BE TREATED TO THE PATRIOTIC MUSIC.

THEY'RE GOING TO HONOR US WITH A FEW SONGS.

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, LET'S GIVE IT UP FOR THIS BUNCH OF FINE PEOPLE IN THE GREEN, ORANGE AND WHITE, THE TOM TOM, TOSM ♪ OH SAY CAN YOU SEE BY THE DAWN'S EARLY LIGHT ♪ WHAT'S SO PROUDLY WE HAIL'D AT THE TWILIGHT'S LAST GLEAMING ♪ WHOSE BROAD STRIPES AND BRIGHT STARS ♪ THROUGH THE PERILOUS FIGHT ♪ ♪ O'ER THE RAMPARTS WE WATCHED WERE SO GALLANTLY STREAMING ♪ ♪ AND THE ROCKETS RED GLARE THE BOMBS BURSTING IN AIR ♪ ♪ GAVE PROOF THROUGH THE NIGHT THAT OUR FLAG WAS STILL THERE ♪ ♪ O SAY DOES THAT STAR-SPANGLED BANNER YET WAVE ♪ ♪ O'ER THE LAND OF THE FREE AND THE HOME OF THE BRAVE ♪♪ >> THANKS ONCE AGAIN FOR THE TOM COOLLEY CHORLEERS.

AND HE IS THE COMMANDER OF THE 174th ATTACK WING AT HANCOCK FIELD, RESPONSIBLE FOR THE COMMAND AND CONTROL OF THE MQ-9 COMBAT OPERATIONS, SUPPORTING COMMANDERS IN MULTIPLE THEATERS OF OPERATION.

HIS WING PERFORMS MQ-9 TESTING AND TRAINTING AND MAINTENANCE, FIELD TRAINING, MISSION SUPPORT, MEDICAL GROUP FUNCTIONS.

HIS WING REGULARLY ANSWERS DEPLOYMENT REQUIREMENTS AROUND THE GLOBE AND PROVIDES IMMEDIATE DOMESTIC RESPONSE AS DIRECTED BY THE GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

COLONEL JOHN O'CONNOR HAS SERVED AS ACTIVE DUTY IN THE U.S. AIR FORCE NOR 39 YEARS.

AFTER THAT NINE YEARS OF ACTIVE DUTY, HE JOINED THE NEW YORK AIR NATIONAL GUARD IN 1998 AND HAS CONTINUED TO PROVIDE US WITH 26 MORE YEARS OF SERVICE THAT WE HOPE DOESN'T END ANY TIME SOON BECAUSE HE IS A GOOD ONE.

COLONEL O'CONNOR DEPLOYED IN SUPPORT OF COMBAT OPERATIONS HIMSELF IN OPERATION DESERT STORM, SOUTHERN WATCH AND OPERATION ENDURING FREEDOM.

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, HE HAS GOT A SPECIAL MESSAGE FOR ALL OF YOU VETERANS AND EVERYBODY WHO LOVES VETERANS TONIGHT HE IS COMMANDER OF THE 174th ATTACK WING.

PLEASE WELCOME COLONEL JOHN O'CONNOR.

[ APPLAUSE ] >> WOW, WHAT A DAY IT HAS BEEN FOR US.

MISSION 21 VETERANS, JUST LOOK AT THIS CROWD.

THEY ARE HERE FOR YOU, ALL FOR YOU.

SO CONGRATULATIONS.

DISTINGUISHED GUESTS, FELLOW VETERANS AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, THE HEROES OF HONOR FLIGHT SYRACUSE MISSION 21 GREETINGS.

I'M NOT IN UNIFORM TONIGHT BECAUSE I HAD A MUCH MORE IMPORTANT JOB TODAY.

, JOINING MISSION 21 AS A VETERAN GUARDIAN FOR MY FRIEND, BYRON HALL WHO IS SEATED RIGHT UP HERE.

CONGRATS, BYRON.

[ APPLAUSE ] AND OF COURSE WE SHARE THIS WITH THE REST OF THE FANTASTIC CROWD.

THE HONOR FLIGHT TEAM TOLD US GREEN SHIRT GUARDIANS THAT WE HAD ONE JOB TODAY AND THAT WAS TO BE SURE OUR VETERANS HAD A SAFE AND MEANINGFUL JOURNEY.

BYRON, I THINK WE DID THAT.

THEY ALSO TOLD ME,ATION GUEST SPEAKER, I HAD A SECOND JOB AND THAT WAS TO BE BRIEF BECAUSE IT'S GETTING LATE SO I'M GOING TO DO THAT.

BUT AFTER THE DAY I HAD TODAY, WITH THIS INCREDIBLE GROUP OF VETERANS, I COULD SPEAK FOR HOURS.

BUT I WON'T.

WORDS CANNOT FULLY EXPRESS THE PROFOUND GRATITUDE AND RESPECT I FEEL STANDING BEFORE YOU TODAY, THE EXPERIENCE OF ACCOMPANYING THESE 82 REMARKABLE VETERANS ON THEIR HONOR FLIGHT JOURNEY TO WASHINGTON D.C. HAS LEFT AN INDELIBLE MARK ON MY HEART.

I HAVE PARTICIPATED IN WELCOME HOMIE VENTS IN SYRACUSE SEVERAL CELEBRATIONS IN THE PAST OF HONOR FLIGHT.

BUT THE EXPERIENCE OF ACCOMPANYING THESE REMARKABLE VETERANS IS JUST INCREDIBLE.

AND IT'S SOMETHING I JUST WON'T FORGET.

SEEING THESE VETERANS FACES LIGHT UP WITH JOY AND PRIDE AS YOU WELCOME THEM HOME WITH OPEN ARMS WAS A MOMENT I WILL CHERISH FOREVER.

MY WIFE KATHY AND DAUGHTER ERIN ARE HERE TONIGHT AND I KNOW THEY'RE MOVED TO SEE SUCH INCREDIBLE SUPPORT FOR OUR VETERANS.

ONE OF MY PAST ROLES AT THE 174 ATTACK WING WAS OVER SEEING INTERNATIONAL MILITARY STUDENTS FROM SEVERAL PARTNER NATIONS WHO CAME TO SYRACUSE TO LEARN HOW TO OPERATE AND MAINTAIN THE MQ-9 AIRCRAFT THAT WE FLY HERE EVERY DAY.

THEY WERE SO IMPRESSED THAT WE ARE SO OFTEN RANDOMLY THANKED FOR OUR SERVICE WHEN OUT IN PUBLIC, AND THAT HAPPENED ALL DAY TODAY FOR THIS GROUP OF PEOPLE.

THEY TOLD ME THIS SIMPLY DOES NOT HAPPEN BACK HOME.

AND IF THEY WERE HERE WITH US TONIGHT, I KNOW THEY WOULD BE ABSOLUTELY BLOWN AWAY BY THIS INCREDIBLE WELCOME HOME FOR OUR VETERANS.

THIS IS AMERICAN PATRIOTISM AND CITIZENSHIP AT ITS ABSOLUTE BEST.

AND ONE THING I FOUND EXCEPTIONALLY INTERESTING IS MAIL CALL.

WHEN THEY BROKE OUT THE MAIL ON THE FLIGHT BACK AND JUST TO SEE THE LOOK ON THEIR FACES WHEN THEY RECEIVED THEIR MAIL, BECAUSE IF YOU HAVE EVER DEPLOYED AND YOU'VE GONE THROUGH THAT MAIL CALL, YOU JUST KNOW THE ACT OF RECEIVING SOMETHING YOU CAN HOLD AND READ IS JUST AN INCREDIBLE EXPERIENCE.

AND THERE IT IS.

AND IT'S FULL.

SO THEY HAD A GREAT MAIL CALL.

[ APPLAUSE ] AS COMMANDER OF THE 174th ATTACK WING HERE IN SYRACUSE, I HAVE THE PRIVILEGE OF LEADING AN INCREDIBLE GROUP OF PEOPLE.

I WANT YOU ALL TO KNOW THAT OUR CURRENT SERVICE MEMBERS, ACTIVE DUTY, RESERVE AND NATIONAL GUARD, ARE EXCEPTIONAL AMERICANS JUST LIKE THIS GROUP I AM SO HONORED TO SERVE WITH THEM AND I KNOW THAT THEY ARE HONORED TO SERVE YOU.

THEY STAND READY EVERY DAY TO CARRY FORWARD THIS LEGACY WE ARE HONORING HERE TONIGHT, SERVING OUR NATION AND OUR COMMUNITY WITH INCREDIBLE TALENT, SELFLESS DEDICATION, SKILL AND BRAVERY.

THEY ARE WELL TRAINED AND THEY ARE ALWAYS READY.

I BELIEVE THEY, LIKE THE VETERANS OF MISSION 21, REPRESENT THE GREATEST STRENGTH AND ADVANTAGE THAT OUR NATION HAS OVER OUR ADVERSARIES.

OUR PEOPLE.

YOUR MILITARY IS STRONG BECAUSE OF THEM AND WITH SUPPORT LIKE WE SEE HERE TONIGHT, FROM ALL OF YOU, THEY WILL NOT FAIL.

THANK YOU TO ALL WHO ARE HERE TONIGHT AND TO ALL WHO MADE THIS TRIP POSSIBLE.

IT'S AN INCREDIBLE JOURNEY.

FOR THESE VETERANS, WHAT A DIFFERENCE A DAY MAKES.

AND LASTLY, AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, TO THE 82 VETERANS OF HONOR FLIGHT SYRACUSE MISSION 21, WELCOME HOME.

THANK YOU.

>> THAT'S WHY HONOR FLIGHT SYRACUSE DOES WHAT IT DOES AND THEY'LL DO IT AGAIN NEXT APRIL.

TWO MISSIONS EACH YEAR TO SAY THANK YOU TO OUR VETERANS YOU CAN LEARN MORE ABOUT APPLYING TO FLY, VOLUNTEER OR DONATE BECAUSE THIS ONLY HAPPENS WITH THE SUPPORT OF A GRATEFUL COMMUNITY.

GO TO HONORFLIGHTSYRACUSE.ORG.

FOR WCNY, I'M DAN CUMMINGS.

THANKS FOR WATCHING.