HONOR FLIGHT-Honoring our Veterans Who Protected Our Country

By Taylor Sterling

This past Saturday, April 13th, The Nam Knights of Orange County led by the President, John “Cheech” Richihci, along with hundreds on motorcycles leading in, and escorting our heroes from VietNam, Korea and the Middle East into Stewart International Airport at 6:30am. The day turned out to be perfect weather for our Veterans on Honor Flight Mission #32 who were greeted by an immeasurable amount of Americans and their children cheering, waving American flags and shouting to the Veterans, thanking them for their service. Accompanying two of our Veterans were Orange County Executive, Steven Neuhaus, who escorted his father, Ralph Neuhaus and our Orange County Sheriff, Paul Arteta with his father, Roy Arteta. Of every Honor Flight that I have covered, and that would be all, this was by far the largest crowd to attend! These missions speak of the heartfelt gratitude that we all have for our Veterans’ service, sacrifice, and selflessness.

The Veterans were welcomed by hundreds waving flags and cheering them as they entered the airport and once inside the airport, they were honored with the music of their military branch, i.e., “Anchors Aweigh” for the U.S. Navy, “The Caissons Go Rolling Along” for the U.S. Army, “The Wild Blue Yonder’‘ for the U.S. Air Force, “The Marines’ Hymn” for the U.S. Marine Corps and “Semper Paratus” for the U.S. Coast Guard. As always, Sgt, Mary Kay Messenger sang the national Anthem to rousing applause. In attendance was Mrs. Heidi Neuhaus, Steve’s mother and his sister, Susan as well as Mary Pat Smith, Neuhaus’ Chief of Staff, and many elected officials including Stephen Bedetti, Supervisor of the Town of New Windsor, Senator Ron Rolison as well.

A very special thank you goes out to the newly appointed Honor Flight Chairman, Lou Ingrassia who oversaw the awesome send-off and welcome for our servicemen and women and what was a perfect day for our Veterans, one that will shine in their memories for all of their lives. When they arrived in Washington D.C,, they had spent the day in our nation’s capital where they visited the monuments, The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, shared meals and priceless conversations and much more. On the plane ride back the Honor Flight team shared letters from family, friends and children from various schools who thanked them and shared what their service meant to them. They arrived back Saturday evening at Stewart to a crowd as large as the morning crowd, who were cheering just as loudly as the morning crowd. God Bless them all. Thank you again Lou Ingrassia, the Chairman of Honor Flight for a perfect day for our Veterans.