Two local veterans sent off in style Friday
Dan McClelland
by Dan McClelland
Two of Tupper Lake's most senior veterans were sent off on the North Country's most recent Honor Flight to Washington in style Friday.
Jim Frenette and Bucky Kentile, riding with their sons Jim and Bill, were escorted to Plattsburgh Friday afternoon by as many as 75 motorcycles, ridden by North Country veterans, and police vehicles, with lights flashing and sirens sounding. Riding with the bikers were John Girouard, Ed McMahon and several others from Tupper Lake.
It was a non-stop ride to Plattsburgh where the two men and their sons were put up for the night. The next morning it was off to Washington, D.C.
Over 100 local well-wishers gathered at the Emergency Services Building on Santa Clara Friday at about 2:30p.m. for the send off.
The start was a little postponed as everyone awaited the arrival of a car carrying another North Country veteran from Massena and the motorcycle entourage, which was about a half hour late.
Each year the North Country Honor Flight organization, with financial support from veterans' groups across the area, flies senior veterans from Plattsburgh Air Force base to the nation's capitol for a tour of the war monuments and an honor ceremony there. It's an often long overdue recognition of their service to this country.
The motorcade left under a huge American Flag, donated by the local Woodmen Lodge, and held aloft from bucket trucks by two village linemen- Chris Zaidan and Carl Larson. Helping on the ground was Tylar Shore.
In Plattsburgh the group of 15 and their 15 “guardians” were checked into a motel and honored at dinner in a local restaurant where they were addressed by retired Assemblywoman Janet Duprey, who is Honor Flight's director of operations and who sang their praises.
At shortly after 6a.m. the next morning they were escorted behind another parade of motorcycles, fire trucks and police vehicles to the Oval at the former Plattsburgh Air Force base, where there were speeches and well wishes offered by others associated with the Honor Flight organization.
One very emotional part was the acapela singing of “More Than a Name on a Wall,” by the Statler Brothers.
At Dulles Airport in Washington, D.C. the delegation was fed before they were escorted on a 40- minute bus ride to Arlington Cemetery, the group's first stop on the memorial tour. There they witnessed the changing of the guard and the laying of the wreaths.
The 15 veterans and their 15 guests visited all of the war monuments that day- including the World War II memorial, the Korean and Vietnam war memorials and the Air Force Memorial. Their bus was escorted between each stop.
Their day finished back at Dulles about 6p.m. for the flight back to Plattsburgh, landing there about 8:30p.m.
Jim and Bucky both said this week they were very moved by the event and they were both thankful for the opportunity to be part of this 31st North Country Honor Flight.
They expressed their thanks to the VFW post and the other veterans organizations here for permitting them and encouraging them to join this latest Honor Flight
Jim said they were very impressed too with Friday afternoon's turnout of family members and friends and to seeing that giant flag that greeted them on Santa Clara Ave.
“The comments we heard from so many here and at Plattsburgh and Washington reflected the thanks and hopes of so many that the sacrifices made of those who served will not be in vain,” Jim said.
“It is difficult to find the words to reflect our feelings after the monuments of these wars,” he noted.
Jim and Bucky suggested that people here should occasionally visit the war monument here on Park Street that carries the names of those from Tupper Lake who serviced and those who paid the ultimate sacrifice to help them understand how they felt seeing the monuments in Washington Saturday.
Both men said they were proud their sons could accompany them on this memorable trip.
Bucky said he and his traveling partner were moved too when they returned to Plattsburgh and were presented with packets of letters from family members and friends, and from North Country school children, all thanking them for their service to this nation.
“This was a day neither Jim nor I will ever forget!”
Bucky said they would encourage other veterans to go on future Honor Flights for the incredible experience it is.
