MIDDLETOWN, N.Y.—Friends and family cheered in the Stewart International Airport luggage claim area as 80 veterans returned from a day-long trip to Washington, giving them the welcome home some veterans never got.
The group of four Korean War veterans, seven Cold War veterans, and 69 Vietnam and Vietnam-era veterans set off by air from Stewart Airport at about 6:30 a.m. on April 11, each with someone they chose to bring along as their guardian.
The veterans represented the Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force, and Coast Guard, and came from as far away as Virginia for the Honor Flight.
The Hudson Valley Honor Flight is a nonprofit organization that provides free transport to and tours of the memorials in Washington.
Several Honor Flights depart from Stewart Airport every year, and this one was Mission 38.
The organization’s objective is to honor veterans and give them a welcome home that many did not receive after their service. Friends and family are asked to welcome them back at the airport.
The veterans touched back down at 9:25 p.m. after a day of seeing the war memorials and cemeteries of the capital, and walked into a room filled with cheers, bells, and signs that read “Welcome Home Stanley,” “Real Heroes, Thank You For Your Service,” and “Thank You, Veterans!”
Robert Quinn grew up in the Town of Cornwall, New York, and returned from the Vietnam War in 1969.
He said that there was no one to welcome him back at the airport back then, and that left a hole in him. Later in his business career, he said, he experienced ridicule and abuse for being a veteran.
“This was a salute from the community here, the community of Orange County, for the service to the nation,” Quinn said.
“It’s different, no prices, nobody’s selling anything. Thank you for serving. That’s a big deal, even in my case, 60 years late. That’s great. That was wonderful.”
Multi-generational veteran Anthony Romano served in the Army National Guard for 24 years and said he enjoyed the experience.
“It touched me, especially when we’re going through the cemetery and seeing all those monuments, stones, and then the Vietnam memorial and see all those names,” he said.
Romano’s family has had 24 members serve in the armed forces since World War I, including in the Nurse Corps, Air Force, and Coast Guard.
Karl and Irene Rohde from Putnam County came to celebrate the arrival of the veterans at the airport. Karl had been on the Hudson Valley Honor Flight Mission 30, and two friends had gone on Mission 38.
Karl described coming back from Mission 30 as the first time he ever felt welcomed home.
He is a Vietnam War veteran and got out of the Army in 1971. He said five of his friends who had taken the flight felt similarly.
“It was the best day of their lives, especially Vietnam veterans. We weren’t really very much welcome home,” he said. “We didn’t wear our uniforms. Nobody called us names; it’s nice to be finally appreciated.”
Benjamin Ferrara came to welcome back the vets in memory of his late grandfather, who was a World War II veteran who took an Honor Flight 12 years ago.
Ferrara said his grandfather thought the experience was unforgettable and very moving.
Ferrara’s grandfather passed away last year.
“I guess it’s what prompted me [to come], because he just passed away recently,” Ferrara said. “So to remember him, honor him. I know he would want me to continue honoring veterans, too.”
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