Many men and women who fought for our freedom have never been thanked for their service and it's long past due. Honor Flight allows veterans to not only reflect on their time in the war, but helps them heal during a trip to Washington D.C to visit the memorials in their honor.

Amy Delia, Honor Flight Communications Director says some of these men and women who served during World War II were teenagers when they went off to war to serve their country. "They fought for all that war stood for and then came home, went back to work and really never had a chance, not only for us to thank them for what they did but they were never given the opportunity to heal and mourn the buddies they lost."

Honor Flight is all about thanking our veterans, celebrating what they fought for to give us the freedoms we have today and giving them a chance to reflect."A lot of the family members tell us my father or grandfather has never shared that story until they went on Honor Flight," says Delia.

It's an amazing way for the younger generation to connect with what these men and women did and saw and really what it means for what they fought for. The freedoms we have today are thanks to these veterans who fought for it years ago

Veterans are taken from the Syracuse airport to Washington for a long, emotional day of visiting memorials and Arlington National Cemetary. "Strangers from the airport all the way to all of the memorials just walk up to these men and women, stick out their hands and say thank you for serving our country," says Delia. "Many of these veterans have never been thanked and it makes them feel proud."

You can nominate a veteran from World War II, Vietnam or the Korean War to take part and Delia says they encourage family members to help because veterans usually won't do it for themselves. "So many veterans think either they don't deserve this trip or they think they are too old."

All expenses are covered and Delia says their goal is to bring every veteran in the Mohawk Valley to Washington D.C. "It an amazing way for the younger generation to connect with what these men and women did and saw and really what it means for what they fought for. The freedoms that we have today are thanks to these veterans who fought for it years ago."

Get more information at HonorFlightSyracuse.org for the 10th mission Saturday, September 30th.

I have the honor of joining the veterans this year. Be sure and check back for all the pictures and video from the emotionally, touching day.

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