These five veterans consisted of James Buffone of Jamestown, Richard Hausladen of Forestville, Thomas Hebeisen of Portland, Marvin Oquist of Jamestown, and Herbert Wiltsie of Frewsburg. The flight took place over the weekend of October 12th and 13th and took the veterans on a trip to Washington DC to visit the monuments there.

Buffone served in the Army during the Vietnam War, serving three years on active duty and one year based in Vietnam. He said he decided to go on the trip because he heard about it from others.

“Everybody who’s been on it tells me you can’t miss it,” Buffone said. “I applied and ended up going on one. It was a little overwhelming when we got back to Buffalo. The welcome there was amazing, because when we came back from Vietnam, we were turned against instead of welcomed.”

Hebeisen served from 1968 to 1972 during Vietnam as part of the Blue Water Navy, with which she sailed off the coast of Vietnam. He also served in the National Guard after that and is a member of the Brocton American Legion Post.

“I wanted to go on the trip to bond with other war veterans and see the nation’s capital and memorials, which I haven’t seen before,” Hebeisen said. “I enjoyed witnessing the changing of the guard at Arlington Cemetery and the Korean memorial hit home with me.”

For Hebeisen, while he didn’t know anyone personally whose name was on the Korean memorial, he said he knew 50 people from Chautauqua County served and died there.

Wiltsie served from 1960 to 1964, which he said was right at the end of the Korean War and the beginning of Vietnam. He added that his nephew had prepared everything for him to go on the flight and surprised him with it, but that he was happy to go.

“It was very exciting and exciting,” Wiltsie said. “There were sad times, but there were also good times. I loved the changing of the guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and I think these soldiers must be really dedicated to doing that.”

Hausladen served from August 1965 to August 1967, completing his basic training at Fort Dixon, New Jersey, his studies in Maryland and his tour of duty in Vietnam. He said his favorite part of the trip was visiting the Great Wall of Vietnam and that it was a “great honor” to go.

“I’ve never been to Washington, DC, and my friends who have been on the trip have told me about it,” Hausladen said. “I wanted to go for myself too and it was very worth it.”

Hausladen added that members of Channel 7 were also on the trip with them and will air a special about this honor flight on Veteran’s Day. Hausladen was interviewed for this as well, near the Vietnam Wall.

Oquist served in the military in Korea as part of the 38th parallel. He said he heard about the trip and contacted the Fenton History Center’s Vets Finding Vets program, which coordinates the trip for the local area, and was accepted. In addition, Oquist said he found everything remarkable and doesn’t have a favorite part because he enjoyed it all. He said veterans, especially those from World War II, were treated like important diplomats with things like a red carpet, motorcade, motorcycle and police escort. Oquist also enjoyed receptions at the Washington DC and Buffalo airports, where veterans were greeted with cheers, bagpipes, applause and hugs. He said the memorial tour was very good and the guide was waiting for the veterans.

“It’s been an excellent ride,” Oquist said. “There’s not one particular thing that stands out for me because they all did it. It was a bit overwhelming. I recommend everyone who has been in the service, no matter where you were stationed or what branch to go on this trip. It’s something you’ll always remember and something I still get off of.”

For more information about the Honor Flight, email the Fenton History Center’s Vets Finding Vets program at [email protected].