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60 Veterans Return Home Sunday, May 22, on Honor Flight Rochester Mission 47
Group is largest number of veterans on a single mission
ROCHESTER, NY – The largest number of veterans taken on a single Honor Flight Rochester mission return home Sunday, May 22. Sixty veterans—59 men and 1 woman—are scheduled to fly on Mission 47, the second flight of 2016. The veterans include heroes who served their country in World War II, Korean War, Vietnam War, and those who served between 1947 – 1964.
Mission 47 includes 9 WW II veterans, 49 Korean veterans, one Korean War/Vietnam War veteran, and one veteran who served in Korea and between 1947 – 1964. The veterans served in the U.S. Army (31), the U.S. Navy (13), the U.S. Air Force (12), the U.S. Marine Corps (3), and the U.S. Army Signal Corps (1).
When Mission 47 returns home, Honor Flight Rochester will have escorted 2,232 veterans to Washington, D.C. for a free, two-day trip.
Date: Sunday, May 22, 2016
Public Welcome Celebration: Approximately 1:30 p.m.
Flight: Southwest Airlines Flight #38
Scheduled Flight Arrival Time: 1:00 p.m.
Where: Greater Rochester International Airport
Private Veteran/Family Ceremony: Approximately 2:00 p.m.
Emcee: Don Alhart, 13WHAM TV News Anchor
Keynote Speaker: Jack Gligora, West Webster Fire Department
Jack is a firefighter with the West Webster Fire Department, where he has been an association member for 27 years, and currently holds the office of Vice President. He is District Safety Coordinator responsible for the safety of 125 volunteers and three firehouses, Safety Officer, and Chairman of the Safety Committee in West Webster. Jack is on the Board of Directors of the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation Rochester Golf Tournament. He is a member of the West Webster Honor Guard, welcoming home Honor Flight veterans for two years and was guardian to his dad for Honor Flight Rochester Mission 34 in May of 2014. Jack is a great role model to his family, demonstrating hard work, honor and commitment; he has dedicated his life to community service and helping others. Jack and his family reside in Webster, NY.
Color Guard: Vietnam Veterans Chapter 20
Music: Kelley’s Heroes Marching Band
Honor Guard : Patriot Guard Riders (pgrny.org)
Departure: Saturday, May 21, 2016. Honor Flight Rochester Mission 47 departs the Greater Rochester International Airport at 6:20 a.m. The veterans and their guardians begin arriving at 4 a.m
**Please Note: Airport Construction. There will be increased traffic congestion during airport construction as the lower ramp will now be used for all through traffic. Construction is taking place on the upper level departures roadway and it will be closed to the public. All departures and arrivals will now be taking place on the lower level.
View our past Mission photos at: www.honorflightrochester.shutterfly.com
Honor Flight Rochester (www.honorflightrochester.org) – one of 135 established hubs in 42 states the national Honor Flight Network – is a not-for-profit, fully-volunteer organization with a goal of taking every World War II, Korean War, Cold-War era or Vietnam War veteran from the Greater Rochester area who otherwise would or could not go, to visit and reflect together at Washington D.C. Memorials built in their honor. The two day trip is free to all World War II, Korean War, Vietnam War, and veterans who served between 1947 – 1964. It is also open to veterans of any era who suffer a catastrophic illness. Rochester’s flying season is April to October. To date, 2,232 veterans have now flown on 47 missions from the Greater Rochester area since the
local organization began full scale flights in early 2009.
Honor Flight Rochester. Please Join Us – Generously. All THEY did… was save the world!
Media Contact:
Neil Fagenbaum, 585.353.2958
