If you ask Highland Falls’ Joe Colleluore about Saturday, Oct. 19, he’s going to say it was a “fantastic day.” He might also use the word “great.”

Colleluore, 79, had the privilege (another of his words) to be a part of Hudson Valley Honor Flight Mission 34, leaving from Stewart Airport at the crack of dawn that day and returning about 8:30 p.m.

“It was a long day, but it was worth it,” he said in an interview this week.
It was several years ago that an Honor Flight was first on Colleluore’s radar. He’s a Vietnam veteran who served in the U.S. Marine Corps from July 1964 until December 1968. His military service was cut short when, at 11 a.m. on March 14, 1968, he stepped on a landmine in Ca Lu Provence, Vietnam. A platoon sergeant, he was the team leader that day; two of his Marines were also injured that day.

“I’d heard of the Honor Flights,” he said, adding that he knew he was eligible. He ended up getting selected several years ago, but a medical issue came up and he couldn’t go then. When his name got to the top of the list again this past summer, he just wasn’t sure he wanted to do it – “I don’t like flying any more, unless it’s for something really special,” – but his wife, Dottie, convinced him. He’s glad she did.

“The day was great. It started early, and people had told me that there would be lots of folks to see us off at Stewart, but I didn’t really believe it – who wants to get up at 5:30 a.m.?” he said. “But they did. Everywhere we went, all day, there were lots of people to cheer us on and help us.”

Among them, when he returned to Stewart, was his wife and daughter Lisa. They were also impressed by the crowd and spirit of the ‘welcome home’ rally at the end of the day.

Colleluore hadn’t been to Washington DC for many years, since he and his wife took their kids to visit the nation’s capital. He recalled some of it but was glad to again have the chance to visit Arlington National Cemetery to see the Tomb of the Unknown Solider and watch the changing of the guard. At the Vietnam Memorial he found the names of a close friend and a nephew. He hadn’t seen the World War II monument – “it’s beautiful, just fantastic,” he said. And, of particular interest to him, the group drove past the Marine Corps Memorial. They also visited the Lincoln Memorial and other landmarks.

“I think there were other Honor Flight groups in DC the same day,” he said, adding that Washington DC was crowded on that beautiful Saturday.

Also as part of the day, Colleluore enjoyed the company of his ‘guardian’, a young woman named Katie; had good meals and enjoyed listening to speakers at those times; didn’t mind the flight there or back (“it was only about 55 minutes,” he said, “it took more time to board the plane than to get to Washington”); and he particularly enjoyed the ‘mail call’ that all onboard had as they returned to Newburgh. That’s an Honor Flight tradition, when the veteran receives a packet of letters, cards, drawings, from not only their family members who wish to participate but students and other community and civic groups in the region. The participants also all received Honor Flight challenge coins.

“The whole day was really well done,” Colleluore said. “There were no problems, it was very peaceful.”

Hudson Valley Honor Flight 34 was expected to include 83 veterans from the area, including one from World War II (“He was 99,” Colleluore said, “God bless him.”), three from the Korean War, five from the Cold War and 70 from Vietnam. There were two women among the veterans, he added.

Now that he’s back home and well-rested after his trip, Colleluore has two things to look forward to next week – the Marine Corps Birthday on November 10, and Veterans Day on November 11. Interestingly, November 10 is important to him for another reason too – his son, Joseph, was born on that date, “on the 200th anniversary of the Marine Corps”. Joseph went on to become a Marine also, serving for 13 years and now working at Quantico Marine Base.

Would he recommend eligible veterans apply for future Honor Flights?

“Absolutely, I’m sorry I didn’t go earlier,” he said. “I appreciate all the work that goes into the day, and the people who fundraise and donate to make it happen. It really was fantastic.”

To learn more about the Honor Flight program, visit hvhonorflight.com.