Tuesday evening November 10, 2009 at its 6pm session, the Monroe County Legislature will present a proclamation and Certificate of Recognition to Honor Flight Rochester in recognition of the honorable work performed by the local organization.
In its first full year of operation, the Rochester “hub” in the 5-year old national Honor Flight Network flew 5 major Honor Flights to Washington D.C. allowing more than 250 area WWII Veterans to witness the Memorial built there to honor the sacrifices they made for this country, and for the world, six decades ago.
Monroe County Legislature President Wayne E. Zyra and Legislator Mary Valerio will present the Legislative Proclamation. Vincent Hope and Edwin “Woody” Mench, executive leaders of the local organization, will attend for Honor Flight, representing scores of area volunteers and many hundreds of citizen donors who make Rochester’s Honor Flight possible. Hope plans also to be accompanied by his father and WWII Veteran, Thomas W. Hope. The two Hopes traveled on a national Honor Flight in 2008, setting the stage for formation of the local chapter, now one of 75 in the country.
According to the younger Hope, “These men and women, now in their 80’s and 90’s, came very quietly home from a horrific war fought on the far side of two oceans. They humbly went back to their lives, building the world we have today, after having saved the world… so that WE could live the lives we enjoy. At this point in their lives, they never expected accolades for what they accomplished as kids – as very young adults. To give them this gift, and to allow them to find one another again – soldiers traveling together on these Honor Flights – after so many decades – is such an emotional experience for them and for all who travel with them.”
“It is OUR Honor to give them this gift of Honor Flights, to reach out to our own parents and grandparents, and offer our thanks for all they did.”
