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Four veterans participate in recent Flight

The third and final trip of the Buffalo Niagara Honor Flight for the year that took veterans to visit the monuments in Washington D.C. was held back at the beginning of October, and three Chautauqua County veterans and one Cattaraugus County veteran were in attendance this time around.

The flight took place on Oct. 10 and 11, and the local veterans were escorted on the bus through the city by the American Legion Riders and two Jamestown Police Department units during the early part of the trip to the meet and greet meeting and dinner in Cheektowaga. Local veterans that attended this flight included Jon Anderson of Ashville who was accompanied by his daughter, Larry Canaley Sr. of Falconer who was accompanied by his son, Lester Lucas of Dewittville who was accompanied by his sister, and Richard Nagel of South Dayton who was accompanied by his daughter.

Anderson said that his favorite part of the trip was the entire flight, but there were some specific parts he mentioned as well.

"I enjoyed Arlington Cemetery and the Vietnam Wall," Anderson said. "It felt like we were finally given a welcome home."

For Canaley, the welcome home was also part of the reason he signed up to go on the Honor Flight. Like Anderson, he noted that Vietnam veterans were not treated well when they first arrived home from their time in the service, and said this time around they were treated very well.

"It was fabulous; I had the best time," Canaley said. "I got to go with my son, and they just appreciated us the entire time. Visiting the Marines museum was my favorite part. They had helicopters like the ones we flew in and for 50 or 60 yards there were Marines saluting us when we came in."

Canaley said he also enjoyed seeing their names on other monuments, the food that they were fed everywhere, and all the help that the veterans on the trip received from doctors and EMTs whenever they needed it. This includes one instance of Canaley needing his wheelchair fixed. Altogether, he said he could not believe how well they were treated, and reemphasized that he had a fabulous time.

Lucas signed up for the Honor Flight two years ago and was given the opportunity to attend this flight.

"I signed up for a new experience and to see how we were recognized," Lucas said. "My favorite part was the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier."

For Nagel, there was not enough he could say about the experience he had on the flight.

"Everyone did an incredible job," Nagel said. "Despite the rain, I really enjoyed the changing of the guard at Arlington. I thought that was really impressive. I liked the Marine Corp museum as well. My daughter did a lot of the leg work, and she came as my guardian. We had heard from a lot of people how incredible the experience was, and my daughter had never been to D.C. either."

Nagel said they had been on the waiting list for two years before being able to come on this trip, and praised the nurses and everyone who took care of them throughout the trip, saying they took care of them hand and foot. The overall experience, he said, was incredible.

Barb Cessna, Vets Finding Vets coordinator with the Fenton History Center, who helps make these trips possible for local veterans, said that the 2026 flights were very special as they were during the year of America's 250th anniversary. Veterans were able to look at themselves and think all the way back to America's original patriots. Additionally, Cessna said all Chautauqua County veterans have free access to the Fenton Research Center through the Vets Finding Vets program. People interested in exploring their family history or applying to be a part of an Honor Flight can call 716-664-6256.