Hundreds came to Stewart greet the vets on their return
NEW WINDSOR – The 15th Hudson Valley Honor Flight from Stewart Airport brought World War II and Korean War veterans to Washington, D.C. on Saturday.
A sea of supporters showed up to send the two Vietnam, one WWII and Vietnam, 21 WWII and 66 Korean War veterans off, as well as to give them a proper return welcome at the end of the day.
Alfred Emigh, a WWII Navy veteran, said, “It was really, great, great, great and everybody was very enthusiastic and they were happy.”
To Richard Ward, a Navy Korean War veteran, the trip was “moving… real moving.”
William Rogers, an Honor Flight 15 veteran, said, “It was terrific.”Everybody, from here down to Washington, everybody was so nice; it just makes you think you wish the whole world was that way, really and so proud to be American.”
Max Benson said he never believed people cared so much. I have never had so much attention in my whole life,” he said. “Everybody was so appreciative. I never thought they liked us that much.”
Hudson Valley Honor Flight Executive Director Beth Voght said although the program welcomes all veterans who need the chance to see to visit the Washington, DC memorials, their main objective is still to accommodate all of those WWII veterans who have not been to D.C. yet, as they are all into their 90s at this point.
“The most important thing is for us to try and find more of these WWII veterans,” Voght said. “I know they’re out there. If they haven’t been on an Honor Flight, that is my biggest thing to get out to the public.”
