>> THIS PROGRAM IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY THE MEMBERS OF WCNY.

THANK YOU.

>> 50 MARKERS HONOR AMERICA'S BRAVE VETERANS OF 20th CENTURY CONFLICTS.

OVER 800 POM ROY MARKERS TELL STORIES OF STORIES OF SERVICE FROM REVOLUTION TO WORLD WAR II.

HONOR FLIGHT.

TODAY'S VETERANS WILL BE FEATURED ON TOMORROW'S POM ROY MARKERS.

ONLY THE FACTS VETTED BY OUR PROFESSIONAL HISTORIANS.

MORE ABOUT MARKER GRANTS AT WGPFOUNDATION.ORG.

>> HELLO, I'M DAN COMINGS.

ON MAY 2, HONOR FLIGHT SYRACUSE FLEW ITS 24th MISSION TO WACKER WASHINGTON.

MORE THAN 80 VETERANS EACH ACCOMPANIED BY THEIR GUARDIANS SPENT TIME AT THE MEMORIALS BUILT TO HONOR THEIR SERVICE AND SACRIFICE.

THAT'S WHAT HONOR FLIGHT IS ALL ABOUT.

GIVING THESE VETERANS A CHANCE FOR LONG OVERDUE RECOGNITION AND RESPECT.

MORE THAN 70 OF THE VETERANS ON MISSION 74 SERVED US IN VIETNAM.

OTHERS WERE VETERANS OF THE KOREAN WAR AND OTHER SERVICE EAR AS.

HONOR FLIGHT SYRACUSE HAS FLOWN MORE THAN 1800 VETERANS TO WACKER WASHINGTON FOR A DAY WE HOPE THEY WILL NEVER FORGET.

IN THE NEXT HALF HOUR, WE WILL SHARE SOME OF MISSION 24 WITH YOU.

LET'S HEAR FROM SOME OF THE VETERANS AS THEY TOURED THE MEMORIALS AND SHARED SOME MEMORIES OF THEIR OWN.

>> WELCOME TO WASHINGTON.

WELCOME TO WASHINGTON.

>> THANK YOU.

>> WE DO IT BECAUSE WE LOVE OUR VETERANS.

WE LOVE OUR VETERANS AND WE LOVE THE VOLUNTEERS AND WE JUST LOVE BEING HERE TO SUPPORT THEM.

>> THANK YOU.

>> VERY MUCH APPRECIATE IT.

THANK YOU.

>> I WAS ON A THREE-MAN TEAM THAT I WAS ON FOR A WHILE AND THEN I RAN A-- AND WE DID NIGHT SURVEILLANCE.

PERSONAL PERSONNEL RAY RADAR AND NIGHT SURVEILLANCE THROUGH STAR LIGHT SCOPE WHICH AT THE TIME WERE TOP SECRET.

NOW IF YOU ARE A HUNTER, GO OUT AND BUY THEM AT THE STORE.

BUT WE WENT TO THE TRAINT >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>> I HAD MY DAD'S PURPLE HEART WHEN HIS BOMBER WAS SHOT DOWN OVER AUSTRIA.

HE SURVIVED THE WAR AND THE WHOLE CREW SURVIVED.

>> TWO FRIENDS THAT HE WENT TO SCHOOL WITH.

>> STAY RIGHT THERE.

>> HE WAS A FRIEND OF MINE.

HE WAS THIS MY SQUAD.

WE USED TO TALK ALL THE TIME.

>> WHERE DID YOU SERVE?

>> VIETNAM FUBAI AND THEN PHU LOI.

WE WERE AT THE DMZ AND THEN THE IRON TRIANGLE IN CAMBODIA.

>> WHAT DID YOU DO?

>> COMBAT MP.

WE DIDN'T DO THE MP STUFF THOUGH.

WE DID SOME OTHER STUFF.

WE WOULD GO OUTSIDE THE WIRE AND LOOK FOR PEOPLE WHO WERE PROBING AND TRYING TO GET IN AND WE WOULD TRY TO ENGAGE.

WE DID NIGHT AMBUSHES AND WE DID A LOT OF STUFF.

WE DIDN'T GUARD ANYTHING.

>> HOW OLD WERE YOU?

>> 19.

>> DID YOU ENLIST OR GET DRAFTED?

>> DRAFTED.

82nd AIRBORNE AND WHAT YOU CALL IT, A LEG BECAUSE I COULDN'T SEE ANY WAY, YOU KNOW, JUMPING OUT OF A PERFECTLY GOOD AIRPLANE.

SO THEY CALLED ME A LEG.

BUT THE GUYS WERE GREAT.

STILL IN CONTACT WITH A LOT OF THEM NOW.

SEVERAL OF THEM.

>> YOU GUYS IN ENJOY YOUR TRIP.

>> DID YOU SEE ANY ACTION?

>> YEAH, MORE KIND THAN YOU WOULD WANT.

>> THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE.

>> NO PROB.

>> HELICOPTER MECHANIC.

CREW CHIEF I WENT TO FORT EUSTACE FOR HELICOPTER QE MAINTENANCE SCHOOL AND WHEN I FINISHED WITH THAT, THEY TOOK APPARENTLY THE TOP 10, AND SENT THEM OFF TO CHINOOK SCHOOL.

I SPENT A YEAR IN ALABAMA, FORT RUCKER SUPPORTING THE WARRANT OFFICER CANDIDATES AND THEIR TRAINING.

AND APRIL OF '68, I GOT MY NOTICE I WAS GOING TO TRAVEL WEST, SPEND A YEAR IN VIETNAM, BACK END OF A CH-47, STARTED OUT AS A GUNNER.

WORKED UP TO CREW CHIEF CREW CHIEF ALSO HAD A GUN RESPONSIBILITY.

FINALLY I GOT 234U6 RANK THAT THEY MADE ME A FLIGHT ENGINEER AND I'M PROUD TO SAY THAT MY CREW AND I NEVER FIRED A SINGLE ROUND AT A COMBATANT.

THE ONLY TIME WE FIRED EXPENDED ANY LED WAS TO MAKE SURE THE GUNS WORKED.

THAT WAS IT.

>> THAT'S ONE OF MY FAVORITE STORIES, TO BE HONEST.

>> THANK YOU.

>> AND YOU CAN PRESS GOOD AND HARD ON IT.

YOU WON'T HURT IT.

YOU SEE HIM SHOWING UP.

♪ ♪ >> I WAS IN THE ARMY.

HE WAS IN THE MARINES.

THEY WERE ALL NEIGHBORHOOD FRIENDS.

>> WE WERE IN VIETNAM?

>> YES.

>> WHEN?

>> '68.

I WAS IN '68 AND HE WAS '67.

>> WHAT DID YOU DO?

>> I WAS AN AIRBORNE INFANTRY.

>> HOW OLD WERE YOU?

>> 21.

YEAH, 21, 22.

SOMEWHERE IN THERE.

>> DID YOU ENLIST OR DID YOU GET DRAFTED?

>> I GOT DRAFTED, YEAH I WANTED TO GET DRAFTED BECAUSE IT WAS ONLY TWO YEARS.

>> HE STEPPED ON A LAND MINE.

>> HE DID?

>> YEAH I WAS FORTUNATELY, I DIDN'T LAST LONG MYSELF.

I WAS IN THE HOSPITAL FOR ABOUT 14 MONTHS RECUPERATING.

A LITTLE TIME IN HAWAII, HOSPITAL IN HAWAII AND THEN ST.

ALBANS IN LONG ISLAND.

>> DID YOU GET DISCHARGED AFTER THAT?

>> I HAD A MELODIES CHARGE.

>> SO ANY LASTING PROBLEMS?

>> OH YEAH I'M MESSED UP RIGHT NOW.

MY LEG HURTS.

>> GUY WASN'T SUPPOSED TO LAST THIS LONG.

HE HAS NINE LIVES.

>> WE WANT TO THANK THOSE VETERANS FOR TAKING TIME TO REFLECT WITH US DURING THEIR BUSY DAY IN WASHINGTON.

IT IS A LONG DAY.

AND IT ENDS RIGHT BACK WHERE IT STARTED AT HANCOCK AIRPORT, WHERE HUNDREDS GATHERED TO SALUTE THESE HEROES FOR SERVING US IN UNIFORM.

LET'S JOIN THE WELCOME HOME PARADE AND CEREMONY NOW FOR HONOR FLIGHT SYRACUSE, MISSION 24.

♪ ♪ [ APPLAUSE ] ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ >> PLEASE STAND IF YOU ARE ABLE AS THE TOM COOLLY CHORAL YEARS HONOR AMERICA WITH OUR NATIONAL ANTHEM.

♪ OH SAY CAN YOU SEE BY THE DAWN'S EARLY LIGHT.

♪ WHAT SO PROUDLY WE HAL E.P.A.-- HAILED AT THE TWILIGHTSLASTGLEAMING.

♪ WHOSE BROUGHT STRIPES AND BRIGHT STARS ♪ O 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 ♪♪ 4*67 ARE.

♪ OVER HILL, OVER DALE WE WILL HIT THE DUSTY TRAIL.

♪ AS THOSE GO ROLL AGO LONG ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ AS THOUGH KASACHS GO ROLL AGO LONG.

AND THEY GO ROLL AGO LONG ♪ ♪ ANCHORS AWAY MY BOYS,.

♪ ANCHORS AWAY.

♪ THEY'RE OFF TO SAIL AT BREAK OF DAY ♪ ♪ ANCHORS AWAY.

♪ UNTIL WE MEET ONCE MORE IT'S WISHING YOU A HAPPY VOYAGE HOME ♪ OFF WE GO INTO THE WILD BLUE YONDER.

♪ RIDING HIGH INTO THE SUN.

♪ ATTABOY, GIVE HER THE GUN ♪ >> ♪ ♪ ♪ WE LIVE IN FAVOR FOR NOW AND WE ARE THE U.S.

AIR FORCE.

♪ WE ARE ALWAYS READY FOR THE CALL.

♪ WE PLACE OUR TRUST IN THEE.

♪ TO... I SHALL OUR PURPOSE BE.

♪ SEMPER HOORAH IS OUR GUIDE.

OUR GLORY TO.

♪ TO FOR FIGHT AND DIE, WE DIE FOR YOU ♪ FROM THE HALLS OF MONTEZUMA TO THE SHORES OF TRIPLY ♪ ♪ WE WILL FIGHT OUR COUNTRY'S BATTLES?

IN THE AIR, LAND AND SEA ♪ ♪ FIRST WE FIGHT FOR RIGHT AND FREEDOM.

♪ AND TO OUR HONOR.

♪ WE ARE PROUD TO CLAIM THE TITLE OF UNITED STATES MARINES ♪ [CHEERS AND APPLAUSE] >> THANK YOU.

I TRULY APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE HERE.

I ALSO KNOW, I WENT ON AN HONOR FLIGHT MISSION A FEW YEARS AGO.

I WAS ASSISTANT BUS LEADER FOR BUS NUMBER 3.

IT WAS A BIG JOB.

BUT-- KIDDING.

I KNOW HOW LONG THIS DAY WAS FOR EVERYONE AND THE LAST THING YOU WANT TO DO IS SIT THERE AND LISTEN TO A BUNCH OF PEOPLE GIVING SPEECHES SO I'M GOING TO KEEP IT VERY BRIEF.

YOU KNOW, THE FIRST THING THAT I WANT TO DO IS BE THE FIRST FROM THIS PODIUM ANYWAY, TO WELCOME ALL OF OUR VETERANS HOME.

[ APPLAUSE ] WHEN I REFLECT ON WHAT HONOR FLIGHT IS ALL ABOUT, IT BRINGS ME BACK TO SOMETHING THAT I HAVE ALWAYS BELIEVED IS TRUE; THAT THE DEBT THAT WE OWE TO THOSE WHO HAVE SERVED THE CAUSE OF THIS NATION'S DEFENSE CAN NEVER BE REPAID.

BUT IT CERTAINLY CAN BE ACKNOWLEDGED.

AND THAT'S SOMETHING WE DID TODAY.

Y ALSO THINK-- GO AHEAD.

[ APPLAUSE ] I WANT TO EXPRESS A WILLINGS GRATITUDE WHILE I HAVE THE MICROPHONE AS WELL.

FIRST, TO ALL THE GUARDIANS AND THE FAMILY MEMBERS WHO WENT ON THE TRIP TODAY, THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU DO.

HONOR FLIGHT MISSIONS WOULD NOT HAPPEN WITHOUT ALL OF YOU.

SO THANK YOU AND GIVE YOURSELVES A ROUND OF APPLAUSE.

I ALSO WANT TO MAKE SURE TO RECOGNIZE THE HONOR FLIGHT TEAM, THE LEADERS AND THE MANY VOLUNTEERS, YOU KNOW, I'M ALWAYS LOOKING FOR SIGNALS OF LEADERSHIP, AND THERE IS ONE THAT IS PLAYING OUT RIGHT HERE IN FRONT OF US.

THE LEADERSHIP OF THE HONOR FLIGHT SYRACUSE TEAM IS OVER THERE.

THEY COULD BE SITTING UP HERE... [ APPLAUSE ] THEY'RE OVER THERE.

THEY COULD BE SITTING UP HERE, BUT THE FACT THAT THEY'RE NOT SIGNALS A VERY, VERY PURE PURPOSE.

THIS IS NOT ABOUT THEM.

IT'S ABOUT ALL OF YOU.

AND THAT HAS ALWAYS BEEN TRUE ABOUT HONOR FLIGHT SYRACUSE.

THE LAST THING I'M GOING TO DO IS LOOK AROUND, LOOK AROUND THIS ROOM.

I HAVE LIVED IN SYRACUSE NEW YORK FOR 20 YEARS.

I LOVE THIS PLACE AND I LOVE THIS PLACE BECAUSE OF THIS.

THIS DOESN'T HAPPEN EVERYWHERE.

SO I ALSO WANT TO RECOGNIZE ALL THE PEOPLE WHO TURNED OUT TO HELP ALL OF US WELCOME THESE VETERANS HOME.

[ APPLAUSE ] THE LAST THING I DO BEFORE I SIT DOWN IS I WANT TO MAKE AN ASK OF EVERYBODY OUT THERE.

THERE IS STILL A WAITING LIST IN CENTRAL NEW YORK OF VETERANS WHO WANT TO GO ON HONOR FLIGHTS.

AND I WOULD ASK EVERYONE THAT HEARS THIS, TO PLEASE RALLY AROUND THIS PROGRAM AND HELP THIS PROGRAM CONTINUE IN THE FUTURE SO THAT EVERY CENTRAL NEW YORK VETERAN WHO WANTS THIS EXPERIENCE HAS THAT OPPORTUNITY.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

[ APPLAUSE ] ♪ ♪ ♪ WHILE THE STORM CLOUDS GATHER FAR ACROSS THE SEA ♪ ♪ LET US SWEAR ALLEGIANCE TO A LAND THAT'S FREE ♪ ♪ LET US ALL BE GRATEFUL FOR A LAND SO FAIR ♪ ♪ AS WE RAISE OUR VOICES IN THE SOMER PRAYER SOMBER PRAYER ♪ ♪ GOD BLESS AMERICA.

♪ LAND THAT I LOVE.

♪ STAND BEFORE BESIDE HER, AND GUIDE HER.

♪ THROUGH THE NIGHT WITH THE LIGHTS FROM ABOVE ♪ ♪ FROM THE MOUNTAINS.

♪ TO THE PRAIRIES.

♪ TO THE OCEANS WHITE WITH FOAM.

♪ GOD BLESS AMERICA.

♪ MY HOME, SWEET HOME.

♪ GOD BLESS AMERICA,.

♪ MY HOME SWEET HOME ♪ >> THANK YOU FOR COMING.

WE ARE ALMOST DONE.

WE ARE AT THE ONE YARD LINE.

A COUPLE OF THINGS I JUST WANTED TO SAY BEFORE WE CLOSE THINGS OUT.

JUST WANT TO RECOGNIZE TWO PEOPLE.

THE REASON WE ARE HERE TONIGHT, HONOR FLIGHT SYRACUSE IS BECAUSE RANDY FLATH, WHO IS STANDING RIGHT OVER THERE AND JOHN PADDOC STANDING UP ABOVE.

2010-2011 STARTED THE IDEA OF FORMING A HUB IN CENTRAL NEW YORK FIRST FLIGHT IN 2012, 24th FLIGHT TODAY.

OVER 1800 VETERANS WE HAVE TAKEN DOWN TO D.C.

THANK YOU.

EVERYBODY.

I WANT TO THANK OUR CURRENT PRESIDENT RETIRED AIR COURSE MAJOR KEVIN BROWN.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

ALL OF OUR VOLUNTEERS WHO COME OUT OF THE WOODWORK ON THESE WEEKENDS.

EVERYBODY IN THE YELLOW SHIRTS, BLUE SHIRTS, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR ALL YOUR HELP.

THIS DOESN'T HAPPEN WITHOUT A LOT OF PEOPLE PUTTING IN A LOT OF EFFORT TO MAKE THESE DAYS HAPPEN SO THANKS ALL OF YOU.

TWO VOLUNTEERS IN PARTICULAR.

[ APPLAUSE ] THE HEALTH AND SAFETY TEAM.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH TO THEM.

84 VETERANS, DOWN TO D.C.

AND BACK SAFELY.

GREAT JOB.

CHANCELLOR HAYNIE, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR BEING HERE TONIGHT AND WITH THAT, HONOR FLIGHT SYRACUSE MISSION 24, YOU ARE DISMISSED.

[ APPLAUSE ] >> WELL, THAT'S THE WELCOME HOME THOSE VETERANS NEVER RECEIVED WHEN THEY RETURNED FROM SERVICE.

IT'S ABOUT TIME, RIGHT.

HONOR SYRACUSE FLIES TWO MISSIONS PER YEAR AND WE DEPEND ENTIRELY ON PRIVATE SUPPORT TO MAKE THESE MISSIONS HAPPEN.

IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO SUPPORT HONOR FLIGHT, GO TO OUR WEBSITE HONOR FLIGHT SYRACUSE.ORG AND CHECK IT OUT.

I'M DAN CUMMINGS.

THANK YOU TO OUR VETERANS FOR THEIR SERVICE AND THANK YOU FOR JOINING US FOR THIS SPECIAL PROGRAM ON HONOR FLIGHT SYRACUSE, MISSION 24.