From left, Wyatt Hirst and his mother, Kathy, from Maine, N.Y. pose for a photo while waiting for the Twin Tiers Honor Flight to arrive at the Greater Binghamton airport. Kathy Hirst shared that her older son was at boot camp at Parris Island, and son Wyatt dressed for the occasion to honor veterans. (Photo by JoAnn R. Walter)
On Nov. 12, 54 veterans from New York’s Southern Tier and Northern Tier of Pennsylvania traveled on an unforgettable trip to tour memorials in Washington, D.C. The trip, hosted by Twin Tiers Honor Flight (TTHF), a non-profit organization that is part of the Honor Flight Network, flew veterans free of charge who served during World War II, the Korean War and Vietnam via a chartered American Airlines airbus to Washington, D.C.
TTHF “Mission 5” departed for Washington Reagan National Airport at 7 a.m. After landing, veterans were greeted by the D.C. community prior to loading chartered buses for a multiple stop agenda which included the World War II memorial, Korean War Memorial, Vietnam Veterans Memorial, Marine Corps War Memorial, U.S. Air Force Memorial and Arlington National Cemetery.
Two Tioga County, N.Y. veterans of the Korean War era, 86-year-old John Barlow of Owego, N.Y. and Almon “Don” Taylor, age 87, of Waverly, N.Y. went on the trip. A guardian, an individual who pays for their own expenses and provides assistance to their assigned veteran throughout the day, accompanied Barlow. Taylor’s guardian, his son who is also named Don, caught up with TTHF at Reagan National. Taylor was pleased, too, that his good friend, Ulster, Pa. resident Rudy Gallup, a 95-year-old World War II veteran, was also able to go on the trip.
Hundreds of supporters filled the hanger at Binghamton Regional Airport on Nov. 12 to welcome home 54 veterans who took a trip with Twin Tiers Honor Flight to Washington, D.C. (Photo by JoAnn R. Walter)
Taylor shared, “The trip was a tremendous experience, just spectacular, and the monuments are beautiful.”
Taylor, a U.S. Air Force veteran, described the three-spired Air Force memorial as breathtaking, a monument that represents multiple meanings, such as a Missing Man formation.
Barlow, a Marine Corps veteran, commented, “It was a great time and the organizers really bent over backwards for us.”
Prior to the trip, both Taylor and Barlow expressed that they really do not view themselves as heroes, but instead as men in uniform who did their duty performing important roles during the war.
Fifty-four veterans who traveled to Washington, D.C. on Nov. 12 with Twin Tiers Honor Flight were treated to a special welcome home at Binghamton Regional airport, which included live patriotic music. (Photo by JoAnn R. Walter)
Barlow shared, “The real heroes are the service members we lost or are still missing.”
From 1951-1955, the draft sent Barlow to Memphis, Tennessee where he trained to be an electronic technician and later served as an instructor. Barlow, who grew up in New York’s metro area, went on to college and worked in New Jersey prior to answering a New York Times ad for southern tier employment. Like many of his generation, Barlow was part of IBM’s economic boom that brought jobs to the region, and where he contributed for decades.
From 1948-1955, Taylor served at Lowry AFB in Denver, Colorado and also Lackland AFB in Texas. After the war ended, Taylor also served in the reserves. Following college, Taylor built a career working as a programmer and as a hospital MIS Director.
Waverly, N.Y. resident and Korean War veteran, Almon “Don” Taylor poses at the Korean War Memorial in Washington, D.C. on Nov. 12. Taylor was one of 54 veterans who took a trip with Twin Tiers Honor Flight to see the memorials. (Provided Photo)
Taylor chuckled, “Of course, my time with computers was back when they were just emerging.”
Retired U.S. Air Force Major and Combat Flight Nurse Danielle Ingram, who also serves as president of the Veterans of Modern Warfare Chapter 9, served as a guardian on the TTHF trip.
“It was inspiring to be with the veterans. It was an amazing day,” Ingram shared, and added, “They all have so much courage and strength, and are proud of what they did.”
Ingram explained that a highlight of the TTHF trip was the opportunity to observe the changing of the guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery. There, she said, veterans in wheelchairs wanted to stand, and tried to stand in honor of lives lost.
Waverly, N.Y. resident and Korean War veteran, Almon “Don” Taylor poses at the World War II Memorial in Washington, D.C. on Nov. 12. Taylor was one of 54 veterans who took a trip with Twin Tiers Honor Flight to see the memorials. (Provided Photo)
Two other guardians on the TTHF were New York State Senator Fred Akshar and Southern Tier Veterans Support Group President, Al Eaton.
At the Binghamton homecoming, several veteran groups, including V.F.W. Post 1371 from Owego, N.Y., along with various scout troops and hundreds of community members and local government officials gathered to welcome the veterans back. American Flags waved while music played and homemade signs greeted veterans as they made their way inside shortly after 9 p.m.
Barlow was pleasantly surprised for the patriotic homecoming. Ingram mentioned that she witnessed proud and happy tears from the veterans, as well as from the supportive crowd.
Barlow said, “I was really overwhelmed in Binghamton. I’m extremely grateful.”
For more information about TTHF, visit twintiershonorflight.org or find them on Facebook and Twitter.
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