WELCOME TO THE HONOR FLIGHT SYRACUSE MISSION 17 HOMECOMING.

LIVE FROM SYRACUSE INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT.

>> GOOD EVENING EVERYONE AND WELCOME TO A VERY SPECIAL LIVE BROADCAST ON WCNY CHANNEL 24.

I'M DAN CUMMINGS AND WE ARE PROUD TO WELCOME YOU TO HANCOCK FOR A VERY SPECIAL EVENING.

WHY SO SPECIAL?

YOU ARE LOOKING LIVE AT IT RIGHT NOW.

THE RETURN TO SYRACUSE OF HONOR FLIGHT SYRACUSE MISSION 17.

IT'S THE TENTH ANNIVERSARY OF THIS VERY SPECIAL HONOR FLIGHT SYRACUSE INITIATIVE AND I'M PROUD TO BE JOINED TONIGHT BY REAR ADMIRAL JOHN PADDOCK, RETIRED REAR ADMIRAL OF THE U.S. NAVY.

HERE WE ARE.

I'M DAN CUMMINGS.

REMEMBER ME?

TV?

AND JOHN PADDOCK.

>> I DO.

I'M OLD ENOUGH.

>> I'LL TELL YOU WHAT.

THIS IS MY RETURN TO LIVE TELEVISION AND I COULDN'T BE MORE PROUD TO HAVE THIS BE THE EVENT, JOHN, THAT BRINGS ME BACK.

>> THANK YOU FOR DOING THIS, WCNY CERTAINLY HAS BEEN A GREAT SUPPORTER.

I REMEMBER VIVIDLY THE FULLING HOUR PRESENTATION THEY DID A FEW YEARS AGO, FOLLOWING US FROM THE BEGINNING OF PLANNING FOR THE HONOR FLIGHT RIGHT ON THROUGH TO THE EXECUTION AND THE TRIP TO D.C. AND BACK AND WELCOME HOME AGAIN.

BUT THIS IS A VERY SPECIAL TIME.

>> I INTRODUCED HIM AS REAR ADMIRAL RETIRED BUT JOHN PADDOCK IS THE PAST PRESIDENT AND CO-FOUNDER OF HONOR FLIGHT SYRACUSE GOING BACK 10 YEARS, ALTHOUGH THE PLANNING STARTED WELL BEFORE 10 YEARS AGO.

>> WELL, IT TOOK A LITTLE TO KIND OF CHEW ON THIS A LITTLE BIT TO SEE WHAT WE HAD TO DO.

I REMEMBER ACTUALLY RANDY, A NON-VETERAN HIMSELF, BUT REALLY HAD THE FIRE IN HIS BELLY TO START A PROGRAM HAD TAKEN HIS FATHER ON A TRIP FROM HONOR FLIGHT ROCHESTER, WHICH STARTED UP.

THEY STARTED UP 2008 OR 2009 AND CAME BACK TO THE AREA AND WAS BRIEFING IT TO A ROTARY CLUB ABOUT TRYING TO GET IT GOING.

I HAPPENED TO BE THERE I SAID WHAT HAVE YOU GOT, RANDY.

DO YOU HAVE MONEY OR AN ORGANIZATION?

HE SAID NO.

I THOUGHT WE WE COULD PUT OUR HEADS TOGETHER BECAUSE IT WOULD BE VALUABLE AND WITH THAT WE RAN OFF WITH OUR HAIR ON FIRE TO TRY TO MAKE IT HAPPEN.

>> IT HAS HAPPENED FOR 10 STRAIGHT YEARS NOW.

MISSION 17 HAS JUST LANDED MINUTES AGO WITHIN THE PAST 15 TO 20 MINUTES AND WE ARE GETTING READY FOR THE ANNUAL PARADE.

JOHN, FOR THOSE WHO DON'T KNOW, TELL US WHAT HONOR FLIGHT IS ALL ABOUT.

IT BRINGS PLANE LOADS OF VETERANS, DOZENS OF THEM TWICE A YEAR TO WASHINGTON D.C. FOR A VERY SPECIAL REASON.

>> THERE IS ABOUT 120, ROUGHLY, HUBS ACROSS THE UNITED STATES, USUALLY CENTERED AROUND AN AIRPORT, AS WE ARE HERE IN SYRACUSE.

AND THE IDEA IS TO TRANSPORT VETERANS TO WASHINGTON D.C. TO SEE MEMORIALS OF THEIR SERVICE AND SACRIFICE.

WE STARTED, OF COURSE, WITH WORLD WAR II VETERANS, THE WHOLE PROGRAM STARTED IN 2005 WITH THE DEDICATION OF THE WORLD WAR II MEMORIAL IN WASHINGTON.

AND WHEN WE GOT THIS GOING, IT WAS PREDOMINANTLY THE DEMOGRAPHIC WE WERE DEALING WITH, OUR FIRST FLIGHTS WERE ALL WORLD WAR II VETERANS THAT SERVED AND IT WAS-- ONCE WE GOT THROUGH THAT FIRST FLIGHT, IT WAS JUST EYES OPENED UP TO WHAT IT MIGHT BE.

AND IT TURNED OUT TO BE MUCH MORE THAN I EVER COULD HAVE IMAGINED.

AND RANDY SHARES THAT VIEW AS WELL.

IT TURNED OUT TO BE A WONDERFUL RESOURCE TO THE MILITARY VETERAN COMMUNITY AND THE ACT OF AND THE RESERVE THROUGHOUT CENTRAL NEW YORK HERE.

WE SERVE 10 COUNTIES.

>> WONDERFUL SAYS IT ALL BECAUSE I HAD THE HONOR OF BEING ON TWO OF THOSE FLIGHTS.

MISSION 2 AND MISSION-- MISSION 4 AND MISSION 4 WITH I WAS WITH 9 WSYR AND THE OUTRIGHT OUTPOWFERRING OF GRATITUDE OF THE PEOPLE FROM WASHINGTON WHO SEE THE HONOR FLIGHTS COME IN AND AS THE MEN AND WOMEN VISIT THE MEMORIALS, THE WORLD WAR II MEMORIAL, THE VIETNAM WALL, ARLINGTON NATIONAL CEMETERY, THE KOREAN WAR MEMORIAL, IT'S OVERPOWERING THE EMOTIONS THAT COME OUT.

>> AS I SAID, IT'S A VERY REWARDING EXPERIENCE FOR EVERYBODY INVOLVED.

AND I HAVE TO SAY, I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE PLANK OWNERS THAT WE HAD EARLY ON.

THE MOST IMPORTANT ONES WERE, OF COURSE, THE ONES WHO STEPPED FORWARD WITH FIRST WE NEEDED A LITTLE MONEY, SRC C-STEPPED STEPPED FORWARD AND GAVE US THE INITIAL INCREMENT OF FUNDS WE NEEDED TO DO OUR FIRST MISSION.

WE COULDN'T OPERATE WITHOUT OUR NURSES.

AND THE CORE OF OUR NURSE TEAM CAME FROM LeMOYNE DEPARTMENT DEPARTMENT OF NURSING.

SO WE ALWAYS HAVE AT LEAST EIGHT OR NINE REGISTERED NURSES ON EACH OF OUR FLIGHTS.

SO LeMOYNE DEPARTMENT OF NURSING HAS BEEN WITH US FROM THE BEGINNING.

AND WE HAVE OF COURSE THE AIRPORT HERE.

THE AIRPORT HAS BEEN PHENOMENAL IN ITS SUPPORT OF US AND HELPING EXECUTE THIS PROGRAM.

WE WERE VERY UNABLE TO ESTIMATE HOW THE TURNOUT WOULD BE, AND HOW THIS THING WOULD BE EXECUTED IN THE TERMINAL, WHICH WAS AT THE TIME UNDER CONSTRUCTION.

AND EVERYBODY WORKED TO MAKE IT HAPPEN.

AND WE HAVE 1233 MILITARY VETERANS.

DEPUTY MISSION LEAD.

DO I HAVE THE TITLE CORRECT IN.

>> YES, YOU DO.

>> GREAT TO SEE YOU AGAIN MY FRIEND.

YOU WERE ON THE AIRCRAFT.

YOU JUST RETURNED WITH THEM.

HOW DID IT GO?

WAS THE WEATHER HALF AS NICE IN WASHINGTON AS IT WAS HERE.

>> THE WEATHER WAS GREAT.

IT WAS A LITTLE WARMER THAN IT WAS HERE THIS MORNING.

THE SUN CAME OUT INTERMITT EBTLY BUT IT WAS GENERALLY HIGH, OVERCAST BUT A PERFECT DAY FOR THE MISSION AND THE VISIT TO WASHINGTON.

>> YOU HAVE BEEN ON ALL 17 OF THEM?

>> 16 OF THE 17.

>> THE TENTH ANNIVERSARY OF HONOR FLIGHT SYRACUSE IT WOULD HAVE BEEN HONOR FLIGHT 20 IF IT WEREN'T FOR COVID.

>> WE HAD TO SUSPEND A COUPLE OF MISSIONS BUT OUR CREATIVE VICE PRESIDENT OF OPERATIONS CAME UP WITH A COUPLE OF NEW IDEAS, INCLUDING THE CENTENARIAN SALUTE WHERE WE VISIT 100-YEAR-OLD VETERANS WHO ARE ALUMNI OF HONOR FLIGHT BY PARADING FIRE ENGINES, POLICE CARS, AMBULANCES.

>> I REMEMBER COVERING A NUMBER OF THEM AND HAVING THEM IN ONE OF THE SPECIALS I DID FOR NEWS CHANNEL 79.

TREMENDOUS CENTENARIAN SALUTE.

SO JOHN WAS JUST MENTIONING HOW EARLY ON IN HONOR FLIGHT SYRACUSE, THE FIRST FLIGHTS WERE WORLD WAR II VETERANS.

THAT'S NOT THE CASE ANYMORE.

HOW MANY WORLD WAR II VETERANS WERE AMONG THE 80, WAS IT 80 TODAY ON THE AIRCRAFT?

>> 79.

>> WE HAD FIVE WORLD WAR II VETERANS.

ONE GENTLEMAN THAT I MET WAS 98.

AND I THINK HE WAS THE ELDEST ON THE MISSION TODAY.

AND THEY'RE REMARKABLE PEOPLE.

WHAT WITH THEIR HISTORIC KNOWLEDGE AND ENTHUSIASM AND VY TALTD.

THEIR MINDS-- THEIR VITALITY.

THEIR MINDS ARE ACTIVE AND THEY'RE GRATEFUL BEYOND WORDS WORE FOR BEING RECOGNIZED AND BEING THANKED FOR THEIR SERVICE.

WITH THE VIETNAM FOLKS, I THINK WE HAD 56 OR 57 ON BOARD TODAY.

THEY'RE ETERNALLY GRATEFUL.

WE WERE CONCERNED HOW WE WOULD DEAL WITH THE VIETNAM VETERANS AND HOW THEY WOULD REACT.

THEY HAVE REACTED VERY, VERY POSITIVELY.

>> STAY WITH ME, JEFF AND BRING JOHN PADDOCK BACK IN.

HE TALKED ABOUT THAT.

I WANT TO ASK HIM NOW.

WE KNOW MORE NOW AS A NATION THAN WE DID BACK-- THE VIETNAM VETERANS TO A PERSON, TO A MAN MOSTLY AND THE WOMEN THAT I'VE TALKED TO, REALIZE THAT THEIR WELCOME HOME ALL THOSE YEARS AGO WASN'T MUCH OF A WELCOME HOME.

HONOR FLIGHT HELPS TO RECTIFY THAT, RIGHT?

>> WE TRY TO PROVIDE THAT SENSE OF APPRECIATION FROM THE COMMUNITY.

A COUPLE POINTS ON THE FOUNDING OF HONOR FLIGHT.

WE HAD-- WE ARE A 501c3.

EACH OF THE HUBS IS ITS OWN 501c3 SO WE CONTROL OUR DESTINY.

DOWN THERE IN WASHINGTON, I LIKE TO SAY THAT WHEN WE ARE DOWN THERE IN WASHINGTON, IT'S PRETTY MUCH YOU GO THROUGH THE MEMORIALS.

YOU VISIT THE WORLD WAR II, THE NAVY, WE PASS THROUGH THE NAVY MEMORIAL, THE VIETNAM AND KOREAN AND THEN THE MARINE CORPS MEMORIAL AND CHANGING OF THE GUARD AT ARLINGTON, WE PRESENT ALL THAT.

BUT THE REAL MEAT OF IT, IN MY MIND HAS ALWAYS BEEN THE WELCOME HOME, WHEN YOU COME BACK HERE AND WE HAVE THIS LITTLE PARADE AND IT'S TRULY-- THE WHOLE PROGRAM HAS BEEN, IN TERMS OF TIME, TALENT AND MONEY AND RESOURCES THAT WE NEED TO DO THIS HAS BEEN A COMPLETE OUTPOURING OF THE LOCAL COMMUNITY OF CENTRAL NEW YORK.

>> WE ARE SEEING THEM COME INTO THE AIRPORT IN LARGE UNTILES.

BEFORE I LET YOU GO, JEFF, YOU WERE IN WASHINGTON TODAY.

THE VIETNAM VETS JOINING HONOR FLIGHT, SOME OF THEM HAVE VISITED THE WALL BEFORE BUT SOME OF THEM IT'S THEIR FIRST LOOK AT THE WALL.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

I WAS NOT AT THE WALL WITH THEM TODAY.

BUT THERE WERE A NUMBER WHO DID RUBBINGS OF FRIENDS THAT THEY HAD ON THERE-- THAT THEY HAD ON THE WALL.

AS YOU KNOW, IT'S A VERY MOVING SOMBER EXPERIENCE TO GO ON THAT WALL AND SEE PEOPLE THAT YOU KNEW.

>> JEFF, I'M GOING TO LET YOU GO BECAUSE YOU HAVE OTHER STOF STUFF TO DO HERE.

AS I EXCUSE JEFF FROM OUR TABLE, I WANT TO TAKE YOU OUTSIDE MOMENTS AGO WHEN WE CAPTURED THE VIDEO OF THE WATER CANNON SALUTE.

REALLY, THIS IS ONE OF THOSE MOMENTS WHERE YOUR HEART ACTUALLY-- MISSION 17 TOUCHING DOWN ABOUT 6:40 THIS EVENING AND JOHN, TELL ME THE SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPORTANCE OF THE WATER CANNON SALUTE.

>> IT'S A RECOGNITION.

IT KIND OF DATES BACK TO THINGS YOU DO IN THE MILITARY WITH THE ARCH OF SWORDS.

MANY PEOPLE WHEN THEY GET MARRIED DO THE ARCH OF SWORDS.

IT'S A TRADITION THAT YOU CAN BRING TO BEAR AT A MORE MODERN WAY OF JUST PROVIDING THESE FEATURES OF THE DAY THAT KIND OF MAKE IT A VERY SPECIAL EVENT.

I MEAN HOW MANY TIMES HAVE YOU FLOWN IN A PLANE AND HAD IT DO A WATER CANNON SALUTE?

>> NEVER FOR ME.

>> DEICEED A FEW TIMES BUT THIS IS A LITTLE DIFFERENT.

IT'S VERY MUCH A RECOGNITION.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT IS NOT UNIQUE BUT CERTAINLY ONE OF THE SPECIAL FEATURES WHEN WE STARTED THIS, WE WERE CONCERNED ABOUT EVERY HUB HAS ITS OWN MODEL OF HOW THEY DO THE BUSINESS HERE IN SYRACUSE WE CHARTER AN AMERICAN AIRLINES JET FOR THE DAY SO THAT IS OUR JET.

WE FLY THEM DOWN.

WE FLY THEM BACK.

WE GO ON OUR SCHEDULE AND OUR TERMS AND IT'S A TREMENDOUS WAY TO DO IT.

WE DO IT IN ONE DAY AND HAVE JUST AS MUCH TIME ON THE GROUND AS ANY OF THE OTHER HUBS.

WE DON'T HAVE TO STAY OVERNIGHT, WE DON'T HAVE THE LOGISTICS TO STAY OVERNIGHT SO THEREFORE WE PRIDE OURSELVES OF NOT SAYING NO.

IF A VETERAN WANTS TO GO ON THIS FLIGHT WE FIND A WAY.

OUR TEAM IS PHENOMENAL.

MAKE HUNDREDS OF CALLS TO MAKE SURE THE GUARDIANS ARE CAPABLE OF DEALING WITH WHATEVER ISSUES THERE ARE.

AND WE PUT A NUMBER OF THEM ON EACH FLIGHT.

YOU MENTION AMERICAN AIRLINES ONE OF THE MANY AIRLINES SERVING THE HANCOCK AIRPORT AND THEY'RE GETTING READY FOR THE WELCOME HOME PARADE.

AND CHANNEL 24 HAS DESIDED FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER TO TELEVISE LIVE THIS WELCOME HOME CEREMONY.

IT'S AWESOME AND SO IS SYRACUSE HANCOCK INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT.

MATT SZWEJBKA JOINS US LIVE.

HOLD THAT UP NICE AND HIGH AND TELL ME WHAT THE AIRPORT NEEDS TO GO THROUGH TO HELP PREPARE FOR AN EVENING LIKE THIS.

>> IT CERTAINLY DOESN'T HAPPEN OVERNIGHT BUT IT'S ALL ABOUT COLLABORATION.

WE'RE SO BLESSED TO HAVE GREAT PARTNERS IN HONOR FLIGHT SYRACUSE.

I HEARD YOU MENTION AMERICAN AIRLINES EARLIER.

ALL OF OUR STAFF FROM TOP TO BOTTOM HERE AT THE SYRACUSE REGIONAL AIRPORT AUTHORITY OPERATOR OF SYRACUSE HANCOCK INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT.

THE PLANNING STARTED BEFORE THAT.

PEOPLE DON'T GET A CHANCE TO SEE THIS BEAUTIFUL NEW TERMINAL BUT YOU HAVE QUITE A SHOWCASE HERE.

>> WE GREAT THEIR APPRECIATE IT.

WE PROVIDE THE CANVAS FOR THIS EVENT AND IT'S HONOR FLIGHT SYRACUSE, THE WELL OILED MACHINE THEY'RE THE ARTIST OF THIS EVENT.

THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THIS WELCOME HOME, JOHN, WHEN PEOPLE FROM ALL OVER CENTRAL NEW YORK, AND YOU SEE THE PIPERS, THE BAG PIPE BAND READY TO LEAD THE PARADE DIRECTLY BEHIND US.

IT MATTERS THAT PEOPLE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO COME OUT AND SALUTE THESE VETERANS WHO HAVE BEEN TREATED TO A VERY SPECIAL DAY IN WASHINGTON AND NOW A VERY SPECIAL WELCOME HOME.

I HAVE HAD SOME OF THE VETS TELL ME IN THE PAST THIS IS ONE OF THE BIG HIGHLIGHTS OF THE DAY FOR THEM.

>> IT TURNS INTO, A COUPLE OF FEATURES COMING BACK AFTER YOU HAVE DONE THE MEMORIALS AND EVERYTHING.

ONE IS ON THE PLANE ITSELF.

SOMETHING WE CALL MAIL CALL WHERE THE VETERANS ARE TREATED TO LETTERS FROM FRIENDS, ACQUAINTANCES, THEIR FAMILIES, SCHOOL CHILDREN AND SO FORTH AND THEY'RE ADDRESSED TO THE INDIVIDUAL VETERANS AND THEY'RE HANDED OUT AS MAIL CALL.

KIND OF A MILITARY TRADITION OF MAIL CALL.

AND MAIL WAS ALWAYS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT TO THE VETERAN IN THE FIELD.

SO THEY GET THAT AND THEN THEY GET OFF THE PLANE AND THIS IS USUALLY-- THIS IS USUALLY THEY FIND-- DESPITE THEY MAY KNOW ABOUT IT, THEY MAY BE AWARE OF WHAT HAPPENS BUT IT REALLY AFFECTS THEM EACH AND EVERY ONE OF THEIR PERSONAL AND POIGNANT WAY ACTUALLY AND I'M STRUCK BY HOW MUCH THIS HAS MEANT TO THE VETERAN COMMUNITY.

>> ON BEHALF OF HONOR FLIGHT SYRACUSE AND JOHN PADDOCK, I REALLY APPRECIATE WHAT THE AIRPORT DOES TO ROLL OUT THE WELCOME WAGON HERE LOGISTICALLY.

>> IT IS QUITE A LOGISTICAL UNDERTAKING BUT AGAIN WE HAVE SUCH AMAZING PARTNERS, EVEN WITHIN THE AIRPORT ECOSYSTEM.

PEOPLE SAY WELL YOU ARE THE AIRPORT.

WHY DID YOU CANCEL MY FLIGHT?

NO, NO, WE HAVE SO MANY PARTNERS WHO MAKE THIS HAPPEN.

AND EVERYTHING FROM EVEN, WE ARE SITTING RIGHT NOW FOR THIS BROADCAST RIGHT NEXT TO OUR RENTAL CAR PARTNERS.

WE COORDINATE WITH THEM JUST FOR THE SPACE ALONE.

>> YOU DO A GREAT JOB AND I APPRECIATE IT.

>> AND BECAUSE I THINK YOU ARE REFLECTIVE OF SO MANY OF THE ORGANIZATIONS WE DEAL WITH RIGHT NOW.

COMING OUT OF COVID WAS A SPECIAL CHALLENGE AND I HAVE TO TAKE GREAT PRIDE IN OUR TEAM OF BEING ABLE TO COME OUT OF COVID AND RESUME THESE FLIGHTS OVER A YEAR AGO.

SEPTEMBER LAST YEAR BECAUSE AT THAT TIME, AS WE LOOKED AT HOW WE WERE GOING TO DO THIS, THE CONSTRAINTS, THE VIRGINIAS CHANGING OF EVERYTHING, GOING THROUGH TWO TSAs, TWO AIRPORTS, BUS PEOPLE, THE GUARD OF MOTORCYCLE PATROL, THE VETERANS THEMSELVES, THEIR HEALTH CONCERNS, ALL THE THINGS.

THERE WERE SO MANY PEOPLE THAT COULD SAY NO VERY EASILY AND QUITE LEGITIMATELY AND WE PULLED THIS OFF AND I'M HAPPY TO SAY THAT HONOR FLIGHT WAS CERTAINLY ONE OF THE VERY FIRST, BACK IN OPERATION AFTER ALL THESE YEARS.

>> AND I CAN TELL YOU WITH AN ABUNDANCE OF CERTAINLY FROM THE AIRPORT SIDE, THE REASON WHY WE JUMP THROUGH ALL OF THOSE LOGISTICS TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN IS THE VERY FUNDAMENTAL NOTION AN AIRPORT SHOULD BE REPRESENTATIVE OF THE COMMUNITY IT SERVES.

THIS COMMUNITY SUPPORTS OUR VETERANS AND SYRACUSE >> ABSOLUTELY.

>> ANOTHER ONE OF OUR PARTNERS.

>> COULDN'T HAVE HONOR FLIGHT SYRACUSE WITHOUT THE AIRPORT AND SO WE REALLY APPRECIATE IT AND THIS AIRPORT TERMINAL, BEAUTIFUL TERMINAL IS GETTING MORE CROWDED BY THE MINUTE AS PEOPLE COME IN.

THE PARKING HAS BEEN TREMENDOUS AND THEY'RE ABLE TO COME ON IN AND STAND BEHIND THOSE ROPE LINES AND BE PREPARED TO GREET THESE 79, WE NOW KNOW THERE WERE 79 VETERANS WHO MADE THE FLIGHT TODAY FROM THIS AIRPORT, EARLY THIS MORNING, BEFORE DAWN.

TALK ABOUT LOGISTICS, JOB.

THIS EFFORT GOES ON FOR MONTHS.

AND THEN THIS MORNING IT STARTS IN THE EARLY DARK HOURS.

>> I WOULD LIKE TO ADD A LITTLE INSIGHT ON THAT NUMBER 79 BECAUSE OUR GOAL ON EVERY ONE OF THESE FLIGHTS IS TO HAVE 80.

THIS IS AN EXPENSIVE PROJECT.

NO QUESTION ABOUT IT.

WE CHARTER, TAKE A JET FOR THE DAY.

WE DO NOT WANT TO LEAVE AN EMPTY SEAT ON THAT PLANE.

AND SO WHAT WE HAVE DONE IS, IN THIS PARTICULAR INSTANCE, WE WOULD HAVE HAD 80, EXCEPT FOR SOME GENTLEMAN GOT ILL AND HAD TO DROP OUT YESTERDAY.

>> THE MANIFEST GOES IN ON MONDAY.

SO WITH THE MANIFEST, WE PUT IN EXTRA ADDITIONAL NAMES OF PEOPLE WHO ARE WILLING VOLUNTEERS THAT COME TO THE AIRPORT AND READY TO GO ON THAT FLIGHT AND LEARN AND ASSIST OR HELP OUT IN SOME WAY.

ONE OF THE SPECIAL PIECES OF THAT IS SOME OF THE YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN THAT HELP PUT THE LETTERS TOGETHER FOR MAIL CALL AND HELP IN OTHER WAYS, WE GIVE THE HIGH SCHOOL KIDS, JUNIORS AND SENIORS, AN OPPORTUNITY TO COME AS STANDBYS AND WE HAD TWO, MAJOR THREE AND THOSE KIDS, THEY HAPPEN TO BE FROM THE HIGH SCHOOL, THEY HAVE INCREDIBLE ACADEMIC RECORDS AND ATHLETIC RECORDS AND IT'S REALLY, I ALWAYS LIKE TO COME BACK TO THAT AND LET THEM EXPRESS WHAT THEY HAVE LEARNED THAT DAY.

>> WHAT A SPECIAL EXPERIENCE FOR THEM AND YOU TALK ABOUT VOLUNTEERS, THE YELLOW SHIRTS ARE THE VOLUNTEERS.

THERE ARE A LOT OF YELLOW SHIRTS.

THE BLUE SHIRTS TONIGHT I THINK IS BLUE FOR GUARDIAN.

>> THE STAFF.

>> USUALLY THE STAFF IS CONSISTING OF THE BUS CAPTAINS, ASSISTANT BUS CAPTAINS AND WE HAVE TWO NURSES ON EACH BUS TO HANDLE ANYTHING.

FOUR BUSES DOWN IN D.C. >> AND HAVING BEEN ON TWO OF THE MISSIONS TO WASHINGTON D.C., I KNOW THAT ONCE THIS HONOR FLIGHT LANDS AT REAGAN INTERNATIONAL, RIGHT?

>> YES.

WE CAN DO THAT.

WE DON'T HAVE TO BUS THEM FROM BALTIMORE OR DULLES.

WE LAND RIGHT THERE AND 10 MINUTES LATER WE ARE ON OUR WAY TO THE WORLD WAR II MEMORIAL.

>> WITH A POLICE ESCORT ALL THE WAY.

>> NATIONAL PARK SERVICE.

>> MAKES YOU FEEL VERY SPECIAL DOWN THERE.

>> YOU ALWAYS GET VERY POSITIVE COMMENTS.

THRE LOVE THE IDEA, THE MOTORCYCLES AND GOING THROUGH THE TRAFFIC DOWN THERE.

MAKES IT A VERY FUNNY VENT.

FOR THE RESIDENCE DOWN THERE.

>> IT IS AND IT'S SOMETHING THAT ALLOWS US TO HONOR THEM BUT SERVING IN THE MILITARY IS NOT WHAT YOU CALL A FUN EVENT.

YOU HAD A TREMENDOUS CAREER WITH THE U.S. NAVY AND IT IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO THANK ALL OF OUR VETERANS AND YOURSELF INCLUDED FOR THE SERVICE THEY HAVE GIVEN TO THIS COUNTRY WITH YOU TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHY AMERICA PARTICULARLY RIGHT NOW, NOT JUST CENTRAL NEW YORKERS BUT FROM COAST TO COAST NEED TO HAVE NIGHTS AND DAYS LIKE THIS TO RECOGNIZE OUR VETERANS?

>> WE NEED TO KEEP THE SPIRIT UP OF AMERICA.

TO RECOGNIZE THAT THESE MEN-- I'VE SERVED SEVEN ADMINISTRATIONS IN MY OWN CAREER OF 37 YEARS.

YOU DO YOUR JOB.

IT'S A RESPONSIBILITY AS A CITIZEN, A LOT OF PEOPLE SAY AND WE GET THIS FROM THE VETERANS ALL TOO OFTEN, ESPECIALLY WORLD WAR II "I DIDN'T DO ANYTHING."

I SAID IF YOU THOUGHT YOU HAD ANY CONTROL OVER YOUR, WHAT THEY WERE GOING TO DO WITH YOU ONCE YOU SIGNED OR WERE DRAFTED ON THAT DOTTED LINE, YOU ARE NUTS.

YOU DESERVE TO GO.

ALL OF US, WE WENT AND DID WHAT WE HAD TO DO AND WE CAME BACK.

SOME WERE MORE LUCKY THAN OTHERS.

I WOULD CONSIDER MYSELF IN THE STREAM OF LUCKY TO HAVE SERVED.

I HAD GREAT FRIENDS, GREAT CAMARADERIE.

HERE WE GO.

HERE THEY GO.

THE PARADE IS UNDER WAY.

>> LET'S TAKE A LISTEN TO THE PIPES.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ PRPB BAG PIPES PLAYING OVER HILL OVER DALE).

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ARCTIC LEAGUER 2 CHEERPG.

>> IF YOU HAVE JUST TUNED IN IN THE LAST 10 MINUTES, YOU HAVE BEEN WATCHING LIVE COVERAGE HERE ON WCNY CHANNEL 24 OF THE WELCOME HOME CEREMONY FOR SYRACUSE HONOR FLIGHT.

HONOR FLIGHT SYRACUSE MISSION 17, DAN CUMMINGS ALONG WITH JOHN PADDOCK, REAR ADMIRAL RETIRED TO THE U.S. NAVY.

JOHN, THERE IS VERY LITTLE IF ANYTHING THAT CAN RIVAL THAT FOR PURE EMOTION.

>> IT'S-- THE INTERESTING THING ABOUT THIS PARTICULAR PHASE IS A LOT OF THE FAMILIES WOULD LIKE IT TO BE A SURPRISE FOR THEIR VETERAN, OF COURSE WITH THE PLANNING INVOLVED, IT'S NOT THAT MUCH OF A SURPRISE THAT THEY'RE GOING.

BUT IT BECOMES A SURPRISE IS THIS PIECE WHERE THEY'RE COMING BACK HOME AND SOME FAMILIES HAVE THEIR FRIENDS COMING IN, NEIGHBORS COMING IN, PEOPLE THE VETERAN NEVER EXPECTED TO SEE HERE.

SOMEBODY THAT FLEW OUT FROM CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA, TO BE HERE, YOU KNOW.

>> AND I THINK AS WE WATCHED THAT LIVE COVERAGE OF THE PARADE ENTERING THIS TERMINAL, WE SAW MORE THAN ONE OR TWO OF THOSE HAPPY WELCOME HOMES THAT WERE NOT EXPECTED.

LET'S GO BACK TO THE PODIUM BECAUSE AMY ROBINS IS YOUR MASTER OF CEREMONIES FOR THE WELCOME HOME.

>> HONOR FLIGHT SYRACUSE MISSION 17.

LET'S HEAR IT FOR THEM!

[ CHEERING ] MY NAME IS AMY ROBINS AND SPEAKING FROM PERSONAL EXPERIENCE FROM GOING ON HONOR FLIGHT, THE FALL MISSION IN 2019, ARE YOU THINKING TO YOURSELF WHAT THE HECK JUST HAPPENED?

I FELT LIKE IT WAS SUCH A SURREAL EXPERIENCE.

AND I WILL TELL YOU THREE YEARS LATER IT WAS ONE OF THE MOST AMAZING AND LIFE CHANGING EXPERIENCES THAT I HAVE HAD IN MY RADIO CAREER.

SO I HOPE THAT THAT MEANT THE SAME FOR ALL OF YOU AND YOU HAVE HAD ABSOLUTELY THE BEST DAY.

YOU KNOW, YEARS AGO 80 MEN AND WOMEN SERVED IN THE UNITED STATES ARMED FORCES AT THE HEIGHT OF WORLD WAR II.

AND THE KOREAN WAR AND THE VIETNAM WAR.

AND THAT'S ALL OF YOU, THE 80 THAT WENT ON MISSION 17 TODAY.

TODAY'S MISSION MARKED THE TENTH ANNIVERSARY OF HONOR FLIGHT SYRACUSE, WHICH HAS FLOWN OVER 1200 VETERANS OVER 17 MISSIONS TO WASHINGTON D.C. [ APPLAUSE ] JOINING US TODAY ARE MANY DISTINGUISHED GUESTS AND HONORED VETERANS.

WOULD I I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE A MOMENT TO HONOR U.S. ARMY COMMANDING OFFICER, SUPPORT OF THE TENTH MOUNTAIN DIVISION AT FORT DRUM WATERTOWN, COLONEL MATTHEW BRAHMAN.

FROM THE UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS, EXECUTIVE OFFICER AND MARINE OFFICER INSTRUCTOR AT CORNELL UNIVERSITY, MAJOR TED POWERS.

[ APPLAUSE ] AND ALSO HUGE PROPONENT OF VETERANS SERVICES.

IN FACT HE WORKED WITH THE COUNTY LEGISLATURE IN THE 2019 BUDGET TO ELIMINATE THE $500 BURIAL FEE FOR VETERANS AND THEIR FAMILIES AT THE VETERAN CEMETERY ONONDAGA COUNTY EXECUTIVE RYAN McMAHON IS ALSO HERE TONIGHT.

[ APPLAUSE ] I WOULD LIKE TO BRING OUT THE PRESIDENT OF HONOR FLIGHT SYRACUSE, RETIRED FROM THE UNITED STATES AIR FORCE, MAJOR GENERAL KEVIN BRADLEY, TO RECOGNIZE THE TENTH ANNIVERSARY.

>> I GOT THE EASIEST JOB.

I'M GOING TO SAY A COUPLE QUICK THANK YOUS AND I HAVE THE TOUGHEST JOB BECAUSE ROB HAS GOT A STOP WATCH ON ME AND HE IS TELLING ME AT 120 SECONDS UP HERE.

NONE OF YOU WANTED TO STAY AND LISTEN TO A RETIRED GENERAL OFFICER ANYMORE THAN I DO, SO WITH THAT, I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO THE ENTIRE CROWD THAT'S HERE.

GEORGE WASHINGTON JUST SAID YOU CAN TELL A LOT ABOUT A COMMUNITY AND COUNTRY IN HOW THEY TREAT THEIR VETERANS.

AND JUST LOOK AT THIS PLACE.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU THANK YOU, THANK YOU.

I ALSO NEED TO THANK ROB FOR THE INCREDIBLE JOB HE DID PUTTING TOGETHER MISSION 17 WITH ALL THE OTHER BLUE SHIRTS.

WE GOT DOWN THERE.

WE GOT BACK.

IT'S NOT OVER UNTIL WE ALL GET HOME, ALL THE BATTLE BUDDIES CHECK IN BUT ROB, BLUE SHIRTS, THANK YOU SO MUCH.

I'D LIKE TO CALL UP RANDY FLAT, CAN YOU JOIN ME AND JOHN PADDOCK IS BAB IN THE BACK JOHN, IF YOU CAN HEAR US, GIVE US A WAVE.

HE IS DOING A LIVE TELEVISION.

... RANDY IS REALLY IMPORTANT TO THIS ORGANIZATION AND IN 2010, RANDY ACCOMPANIED HIS FATHER ON AN HONOR FLIGHT OUT OF ROCHESTER, NEW YORK.

YOU KNOW, SOMETIMES IT TAKES ONE PERSON TO RECOGNIZE A NEED AND HE FILLED THAT BY COMING BACK AND TEAMING WITH RANDY AND JOHN PADDOCK.

IT ALL STARTED OUT IN SKANEATELES AND TWO YEARS LATER, OCTOBER 12 OF 2012, ALMOST 10 YEARS AGO TODAY WE FLEW OUR FIRST FLIGHT.

ROLL THE CLOCK FORWARD, THIS IS OUR 17th MISSION.

IT'S ALL BECAUSE THESE TWO GUYS GOT TOGETHER.

HE HAD THE VISION.

JOHN HAD THE LEADERSHIP.

AND HERE WE ARE.

WE LOOK FORWARD TO AT LEAST ANOTHER 50 MORE YEARS.

SO RANDY, THANK YOU.

[ APPLAUSE ] WITH THAT, WE WANTED TO JUST OFFER RANDY A SILVER MINTED COIN COMMEMORATING THE TENTH ANNIVERSARY OF HONOR FLIGHT SYRACUSE CO-FOUNDER, THANK YOU.

[ APPLAUSE ] AND JOHN PADDOCK, YOURS IS WAITING.

THANKS AGAIN.

[ APPLAUSE ] >> THIS GROUP HAVE BEEN HUGE SUPPORTERS OF VETERANS THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITY AND VOLUNTEER THEIR TIME FOR SO MANY DIFFERENT EVENTS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, IT'S TIME TO HEAR FROM THE TOM DOOLEY CHORALIERS.

♪ OVER HILL, OVER DALE, WE WILL HIT THE DUSTY TRAIL AS WE GO ROLLING ALONG ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ IT'S HI, HI, HEE IN THE FIELD ARTILLERY.

♪ SHOUT OUT YOUR NUMBERS LOUD AND CRONG.

♪ FOR WHERE EVER YOU GO, YOU WILL ALWAYS KNOW THAT THE CAISSONS ARE ROLLING ALONG.

♪ ANCHORS AWAY MY BOYS, ANXIOUSORS AWAY.

♪ FAREWELL TO COLLEGE JOYS.

♪ WE SAIL AT BREAK OF DAY, DAY, DAY, DAY, DAY.

♪ THROUGH OUR LAST NIGHT ON SHORE, ANCHORS AWEIGH.

♪ UNTIL WE MEET ONCE MORE, HERE'S WISHING YOU A HAPPY VOYAGE HOME ♪ ♪ OFF WE GO INTO THE WILD BLUE YONDER, CLIMBING HIGH INTO THE SUN ♪ ♪ HERE THEY COME ZOOMING TO MEET OUR THUNDER.

♪ AT 'EM BOYS, GET THE JOB DONE ♪ DOWN THE DIVE SPOUTING YOUR FLAME FROM UNDER, OFF ON ONE TERRIBLE COURSE ♪ ♪ WE LIVE FAME OR GO DOWN IN FLAME.

♪ HEY NOTHING WILL STOP THE U.S. AIR FORCE ♪ ♪ THROUGH.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ OUR GLORY DO ♪ IS TO FIGHT TO SAVE OUR FLAG ♪ THE COAST GUARD FOR YOU ♪ ♪ FROM THE HALLS OF MONTEZUMA, TO THE SHORES OF TRIPOLI ♪ ♪ WE WILL FIGHT OUR COUNTRY'S BATTLES IN THE AIR ON LAND AND SEA ♪ ♪ FIRST TO FIGHT FOR RIGHT AND FREEDOM AND TO KEEP OUR HONOR CLEAN ♪ ♪ WE ARE PROUD TO CLAIM THE TITLE OF THE UNITED STATES MARINES ♪ [CHEERS AND APPLAUSE] ♪ ♪ ♪ LET US ALL BE GRATEFUL FOR A... ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ GOD BLESS AMERICA.

♪ LAND THAT I LOVE.

♪ STAND BRD BESIDE HER AND GUIDE HER.

♪ THROUGH THE NIGHT WITH THE LIGHT 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 ♪ [ APPLAUSE ] ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ MAY THE WIND BE ALWAYS AT YOUR BACK ST. ♪ MAY THE SUNSHINE WARM UPON YOUR FACE ♪ AND THE RAIN FALL SOFT UPON YOUR FIELDS ♪ ♪ AND UNTIL WE MEET AGAIN, UNTIL WE MEET AGAIN ♪ ♪ MAY GOD HOLD YOU IN THE PALM OF HIS HAND.

[ APPLAUSE ] >> I'D LIKE TO INTRODUCE OUR GUEST SPEAKER WHO WORKS IN WASHINGTON D.C.

IN THE PENTAGON ON THE STAFF OF A NAVY CHIEF OF NAVAL OPERATIONS AS THE DIRECTOR OF INFORMATION WARFARE INTEGRATION DIRECTORATE.

HE IS ALSO THE NAVY SENIOR METEOROLOGIST AND OCEANOGRAPHER, HE HAILS FROM CAMILLUS AND IS A GRADUATE OF WEST GENESEE HIGH SCHOOL AND SUNY MARITIME.

PLEASE WELCOME REAR ADMIRAL JOHN OKON OF THE UNITED STATES NAVY.

[ APPLAUSE ] ARE WE GOING TO GET A WEST GENESEE GOING.

WOW.

AS SOON AS I GOT OFF THE PLANE MY LOVELY WIFE LOOKED AT ME AND SAID SO JOHN, WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO TALK ABOUT.

I SAID I DON'T KNOW, PROBABLY GOING TO WING IT.

SHE TURNED TO ME AND SHE GOES, REMEMBER, JULIA CAESAR MADE LONG SPEECHES, HIS MEN KILLED HIM SO I WILL BE BRIEF.

AND I WANT TO DO A COUPLE OF THINGS.

IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT FOR ME TO BE BACK HERE IN MY HOMETOWN WHERE MY JOURNEY STARTED OVER 31 YEARS AGO.

BUT FIRST, I WANT TO GET A BIG WELCOME OR A BIG THANK YOU FOR THE ENTIRE TEAM HONOR FLIGHT SYRACUSE.

[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE] THEY ARE AN ARMY NOT TO BE RECKONED WITH.

THEY PROVIDE EVERY DETAIL, THEY TOOK CARE OF EVERYTHING.

THEY COME TOGETHER AS ONE AND THEY GAVE EVERY VETERAN A DAY THAT THEY WANTED FOR NOTHING.

EVERYTHING WAS THERE YOU KNOW, IF YOU HAVE BEEN IN THE MILITARY, PEOPLE ASK YOU THE QUESTION A LOT.

WERE YOU IN THE SERVICE AND WE SAY YES AND ANSWER WITH THE BRANCH.

MY QUESTION COMES WITH ANOTHER ASPECT OF THIS YES, YOU WERE IN THE SERVICE IN IN A DEPARTMENT ARMED FORCE BUT YOU ARE ALSO IN THE SERVICE OF OTHERS AND I CAN TELL YOU TEAM HONOR FLIGHT SYRACUSE, YOU ARE IN THE SERVICE.

YOU ARE ACTUALLY IN THE SERVICE OF OTHERS.

YOU MAKE EVERYBODY AROUND YOU BETTER AND I CANNOT BE PROUDER TO BE WITH YOU HERE ON HONOR FLIGHT MISSION 17 OWE THANK YOU.

[ APPLAUSE ] TO THE LOCAL COMMUNITY, WHERE WAS EVERYBODY LAST NIGHT IN THE DOME?

[LAUGHTER] THEY HAD PRIORITY AND THAT WAS GETTING ENOUGH SLEEP TO BE READY TODAY TO SEND OUR 80 VETERANS BACK TO DC TO HONOR THEM THE WAY WE NEED TO.

SO TO THE COMMUNITY... [ APPLAUSE ] TO THE LOCAL COMMUNITY, NORTH AND SOUTH, EAST AND WEST AND DOWNTOWN, I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU.

THIS IS A VERY SPECIAL TOWN AND A VERY SPECIAL COMMUNITY THAT SURROUND IT.

THE TOWN THAT IS MADE UP OF INTEGRITY BASED TOUGH LEADERS, HARD WORKING AND HARD WORK IS THE EQUALIZER AND THEY NEVER FORGET ABOUT WHO THEY'RE WORKING FOR AND FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART TO THE ENTIRE CENTRAL NEW YORK, I'M ACTUAL ABSOLUTELY PROUD TO BE PART OF THIS COMMUNITY, ALWAYS HAVE BEEN, ALWAYS WILL BE AND WHEN I SAY I'M FROM UPSTATE, THIS IS WHAT I MEAN.

WE ARE FROM UPSTATE.

[ APPLAUSE ] LAST TO MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS ALSO AS I GOT OFF THE PLANE, I HAVE A LITTLE UNFINISHED BUSINESS.

I WALKED OFF THE PLANE AND I ASKED MY WIFE FOR SOME CHAP STICK AND SHE SAID JUST REACH INTO MY POCKETBOOK AND GRAB ONE.

IT'S IN THERE.

I SAID AND I DID, AND OUT CAME 10 PHONE NUMBERS WITH NAMES ON THEM.

TERRY MY WIFE ASKED YOU TORE A DATE AND I SAID DID SHE SAY YES OR NO.

SHE SAID NO.

THAT ONE THING I DID LEARN ON THIS.

NEVER BRING YOUR WIFE ON DEPLOYMENT OR MISSIONS.

IT WILL GET YOU IN TROUBLE.

SERIOUSLY.

TO THE VETERANS, 350 MILLION AMERICANS IN OUR COUNTRY.

350 MILLION; LESS THAN 6% LESS THAN 6% HAVE SERVED IN OUR NATION'S ARMED FORCES IN THE DEFENSE OF THE CONSTITUTION TO SUPPORT DEFEND THE DOCUMENT THAT HOUSES THE AMERICAN WAY OF LIFE SO OTHERS MAY DREAM.

SO OTHERS MAY REST AT NIGHT 6%.

AND SO TO THE PORTION OF THAT 6% THAT ARE HERE TODAY.

BROTHERS AND SIS MERS, IT'S MY HONOR TO WELCOME YOU I KNOW I LOOK A LITTLE DIFFERENT THAN I DID ON THE FLIGHT OR THE BUS BUT THAT'S FOR A PURPOSE.

IT WAS ACTUALLY A DAY YOU WILL NEVER FORGET AND IT ABSOLUTELY CHANGED ME FOR THE BETTER MOVING FORWARD.

SOME DAY YOU WILL KNOW WHAT IT IS ALL ABOUT.

TODAY IS THE DAY TO REMEMBER.

TODAY IS THE DAY TO EMBRACE A VETERAN AND SAY WE WILL NEVER FORGET.

ALSO IN THAT CONSTITUTION IT SAYS WE ARE IN PURSUIT OF A MORE PERFECT UNION.

WE MUST COME TO GRIPS AS A NATION THAT WE HAVE ALWAYS NOT BEEN A PERFECT UNION TO OUR VETERANS.

WE HAVE MADE MISTAKES AND HOPEFULLY TODAY WE HAVE CLEARED THAT MISTAKE AND WE HAVE PROVEN TO YOU, TO THIS WHOLE TOWN, TO THIS WHOLE HONOR FLIGHT, THAT WE CARE ABOUT YOUR SERVICE, WE LOVE YOU DEEPLY AND WE ARE HONORED FOR YOUR SACRIFICE AND SERVICE AND WE WILL NEVER, EVER FORGET YOU.

[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE] BECAUSE PEACE DOES NOT DESERVE ITSELF.

THAT WHY YOU SERVE.

YOU SERVE SO OTHERS MAY DREAM.

AND TODAY I CANNOT SAY ENOUGH ABOUT THE EMOTIONS THAT I HAVE HAD TODAY WALKING, ENGAGING, TALKING WITH YOU RAY McKNIGHT ABSOLUTELY INCREDIBLE.

HUMBLE TO THE BONE AND I KNOW EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU HAVE THAT SAME HUMBLE SEED THAT'S IN YOUR SOUL SO AS YOU WALK OUT TODAY AND EMBRACE YOUR LOVED ONES KNOW THAT 350 MILLION AMERICANS IN THIS COUNTRY THAT HAVE GONE TO DEFEND MASSACHUSETTS AROUND THE WORLD, THAT WE LOVE YOU, WE SUPPORT YOU WE HONOR YOU AND I WILL TELL YOU THAT WE WILL NEVER FORGET.

>> REAR ADMIRAL JOHN OKON OF THE NAVY.

CAMILLUS NATIVE.

JOHN PADDOCK, A FINAL WORD FROM YOU AS WE CLOSE.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH WCNY AND THANK YOU THE TEEM DID A GREAT JOB OUR NEXT MISSION IS SATURDAY, LAST SATURDAY IN APRIL, 2023: HONOR FLIGHT SYRACUSE IS COMMITTED TO NOW AND THE FUTURE FOR OUR OPERATIONS IN 2023 AND BEYOND.

AND LASTLY, THERE IS A LOT OF INFORMATION ON OUR WEBSITE HON FLOOR FLIGHT SYRACUSE D.O.T..ORG.

>> IT HAS BEEN AN HONOR BROADCASTING WITH YOU.

JOHN.

AND THANK YOU FOR JOINING US EVERYBODY HERE ON WCNY.

THE FIRST TIME THAT ANY TELEVISION STATION IN SYRACUSE HAS CARRIED LIVE THE WELCOME HOME CEREMONY FOR SYRACUSE HONOR FLIGHT MISSION 17.

PROUD TO BE PART OF IT AND PROUD TO BE PART OF THIS COMMUNITY.

THANK YOU FOR WATCHING EVERYBODY.

AND WE'LL SEE YOU AGAIN SOON ON TELEVISION.