01-06-2025
Honor Flight Mission 89 celebrates veterans' return to Rochester
ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC) – Honor Flight Rochester welcomed back 62 veterans to Rochester on Sunday afternoon from their weekend trip to Washington, D.C. Mission 89 left early Saturday morning. This was the second mission this year. Mission 89 has flown more than 4,500 veterans since it began in 2008. Honor Flight is funded through hundreds of volunteers and the generosity of organizations, individuals, corporations, and testamentary bequests.
Sunday's Mission 89 included: 3 Cold War veterans, 7 Cold War/Vietnam War veterans and 52 Vietnam War veterans. Their branches of service are: Army (34), Navy (9), Air Force (9), Marines (8) Army/Marines (1) and Coast Guard (1).
The welcome-home celebration took place at the Frederick Douglass Greater Rochester International Airport. Christian Garzone with 13WHAM News was the emcee, and Monroe County Executive Adam Bello was the keynote speaker.
Soloist Peter Pirro sang the National Anthem with the Pittsford Fire Department Band. U.S. Naval Sea Cadets also took part in the ceremony.
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