Honor Flight Rochester Mission 86 honors 62 veterans

ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC) – Honor Flight Rochester Mission 86 returned to Rochester early Sunday afternoon for the fifth of six missions this year. HFR Missions provide local veterans with what has been described as “the trip of a lifetime.” Veteran applications never expire.

Sixty-two veterans will fly on Mission 86 including: 1 WWII Veteran, 3 Korean War Veterans, 2 Korea/Cold War Veterans, 1 Cold War Veteran, 7 Cold War/Vietnam War Veterans, 47 Vietnam War Veterans and 1 Post Vietnam War Veteran took part in this weekend’s flight. The branches of service are Army (23), Navy (17), Air Force (13) and Marines (9).

Those with HFR said just after the previous mission, they received a letter from a Vietnam War veteran who in his words, “expressed my most sincere thanks for including me on the Mission to Washington DC. It was the experience of a lifetime, and I will cherish the memory as long as I live.”

Since 2008 including Mission 86, HFR has flown 4,355 veterans funded through the
generosity of the Rochester community including many organizations, corporations, individuals, and hundreds of volunteers.

Monroe County Sheriff Todd Baxter was the keynote speaker, and News 8’s managing editor Adam Chodak was the emcee.

The National Anthem was sung by LeMoyne College soloist Abby Riggins with the band Gates Keystone Club Police Pipes & Drums. The color guard was the Chili Lady Liberties.

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