Leesburg veterans experience 'unbelievable' trip through Honor Flight Dayton
U.S. Army veterans Howard Oryl, left, and John Barrett of Leesburg are pictured at their airport for their Honor Flight. (Photos by Lisa Hughes)
Two U.S. Army veterans from the Village of Leesburg recently experienced a trip that was years in the making, as they flew to Washington, D.C. through Honor Flight Dayton.
John Barrett and Howard Oryl of Leesburg made the journey June 1, along with 100 other veterans. The group included two veterans from the Korean War, six from the Cold War/Vietnam and 94 from the Vietnam War, according to the Honor Flight Dayton Facebook page.
“Honor Flight Dayton strives to provide all eligible veterans an experience that many have called ‘a trip of a lifetime,’” according to https://honorflightdayton.org. “These trips (both via air or RVC ground transportation) are provided at no cost to all qualified veterans ,which includes airfare, bus transportation while in D.C., meals and Honor Flight Dayton T-shirts. Since 2014, all flights have been charter flights typically through American Airlines and [are] funded by donations to Honor Flight Dayton.”
According to Honor Flight Dayton, veterans are selected on a “first-come, first-served basis,” based on when they were in the military. Oryl and Barrett said they have been waiting since prior to the COVID-19 pandemic for their turn.
It was worth the wait, however, as both veterans said they were still “choked up” from the emotional experience.
“You would not believe the way people treated us,” Oryl told The Highland County Press. “It was unbelievable.”
The gentlemen said they started their trip with a 3:30 a.m. flight. They were surprised and touched to read letters from loved ones on the plane. They said that they had volunteers who “wouldn’t let us do anything,” pushing the veterans around in wheelchairs for the whole trip, as well as paramedics and nurses who constantly checked in on the veterans.
“They waited on us hand and foot,” Oryl said.
Oryl especially thanked the volunteer who pushed him around, Lisa Hughes, as he said she was “amazing.” In addition to making sure Oryl had everything he needed, she took 80 photos of him and Barrett and had them developed for both of them, they said.
“I want her to know how much I appreciate it,” Oryl said.
Barrett said the man who pushed him around was named Dan and was also wonderful.
When the group returned home on a flight that landed at 9:30 p.m., the airport was filled with a huge crowd of onlookers who cheered as the veterans were wheeled off the plane, as the crowds waved flags and handed out flowers to veterans. Their family members were among those cheering them on, Oryl said.
Barrett said that if any veteran has not been to Washington, D.C. to see the memorials, he would highly encourage them to sign up.
“I’ve never experienced anything like this in my life,” Oryl added.
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