Press Releases

Honor Flight Syracuse, WCNY to present ‘An Honor Flight for Our Times’ May 25

by Rouhollah Goudarzi

May 20, 2020

WCNY, Central New York’s community-owned public broadcaster, in partnership with Honor Flight Syracuse presents a new half-hour TV special, “An Honor Flight for Our Times” at 1 p.m. May 25.

Each year, veterans from Central New York are flown to Washington, D.C. on a trip that for many is a final salute from a grateful nation. Honor Flight Mission #015 was scheduled to take 80 veterans to visit the monuments built to commemorate the wars they waged in early May.

Due to the COVID-19 their journey is delayed. Their honor does not have to wait.

“An Honor Flight for Our Times” will honor the men and women from Mission #015, bringing together veterans to tell their stories and take a visual tour of the memorials in our nation’s capital. The sites celebrated and virtually visited will include the World War II, Korean and Vietnam War Memorials, and the Arlington National Cemetery.

The show is hosted by Bill Smullen, CEO of Clear Path for Veterans and Chief of Staff to former U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell, and Jeff Bastable, Director of Philanthropy for Honor Flight.

“WCNY is pleased to partner with Honor Flight to pay tribute to the men and women who have served our nation,” said Mitch Gelman, WCNY President and CEO. “As Central New York’s public media broadcaster, we’re proud to tell the stories of area veterans and recognize their courage with a virtual Honor Flight they can share with their families.”

“Honor Flight Syracuse Mission 15 may be delayed, but thanks to WCNY, our gratitude to these veterans–to ALL veterans–does not have to wait,” said Jeff Bastable, Director of Philanthropy for Honor Flight. “We have flown nearly 1,000 veterans to our nation’s capital and look forward to the day when we can resume our mission of thanks and appreciation.”

Featured Veterans

• Bard Conroe–WW II Veteran, Honor Flight Mission 2 in 2013
• Gene F. Smith– Korean War Veteran, Honor Flight Mission 3 in 2014
• John Wilson–Vietnam War Veteran, Honor Flight Mission 3 in 2014

Featured Guest

• Amy Delia, Director of Marketing Communications for Honor Flight

Following the program, WCNY will re-broadcast its original program “An Honor Flight–One More Tour” from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. The special will feature interviews with vets whose lives have been lifted by the Honor Flights they have experienced.

Both programs will be available to watch online at wcny.org.

Additional Memorial Day Weekend Programs are listed at wcny.org/honorflightforourtimes.

For TV viewing information, visit wcny.org/wheretowatch.

About WCNY

WCNY was founded in 1965 as The Educational Television Council of Central New York. Today, it is a community-owned media company that produces content across multiple platforms, including television and radio programs, dynamic web and targeted email content, the WCNY CONNECT member magazine, and social media. Through online stream technology, WCNY has a global broadcast audience of viewers and listeners throughout the United States and 17 countries. WCNY operates five digital, pledge-free broadcast channels and three radio stations. Towers are located in Watertown and Utica, and WCNY’s radio programming extends into Canada. Classic FM is one of a few radio stations in the world dedicated to locally programmed classical music.

Educational services include the TV Classroom Network, workshops; a 10,000 square-foot building with dedicated Education Center; Read Out, a radio reading service for the visually impaired; Enterprise America for middle school students; and a media and marketing communications program for high school students.

WCNY is LEED® Platinum Certified by the U.S. Green Building Council, the highest certification level achievable in Leadership, Energy & Environmental Design. Other achievements include “Business of the Year” in the nonprofit category in 2014 by CenterState CEO.