Tony DeSanto, a World War II veteran who fought in the South Pacific, thought he had seen it all.
“When we came back into San Francisco,” said Mr. DeSanto, reaching back to 1945, “we passed under the Golden Gate, and the tugboats were shooting off their water cannons. I thought, ‘This is IT.’
“But then when this trip happened, I said, ‘They haven’t forgotten us.’ Our reception was unbelievable.”
Mr. DeSanto’s trip was an October 22 visit to Washington DC courtesy of Leatherstocking Honor Flight. The Summit resident along with 20 other vets and 10 chaperones made a one-day trip to see the World War II monument and other sites dedicated to the greatest generation.
The tour was the first by the Leatherstocking group, an affiliate of the national Honor Flight organization that takes veterans free of charge to Washington.
Leatherstocking leaders planned the trip for weeks. The vets and chaperones––called guardians on the trip––left the Schoharie park-and-ride on a bus about 8am for the Albany airport.
There were honors and salutes virtually every step of the way.
Marines in a recruiter’s Humvee met them in Albany, where Reverend Gary Edmister of the Richmondville Lutheran Church led a prayer.
Another surprise met them in Washington. As the vets left the plane and entered the airport, the PA system announced their arrival.
“Everybody in the airport just stood up and cheered,” said Greg Furlong, a guardian and one of the Leatherstocking organizers. “It just broke out.”
“It made me teary. . .we just couldn’t help it,” added Eileen Fisher, another guardian.
The veterans were moved, too.
“Everybody gave us a big hand. . .the old-timers,” laughed Lionel DeCosta, a Navy vet. “it was beautifully done.”
Veterans found some of their own at the airport. Josh Jochem, a paratrooper, saw a fellow Airborne vet in another group.
“He just wheeled his wheelchair over and they started talking,” Mr. Furlong said. “It was a great moment.”
From the airport, the entourage bused to the World War II memorial––and another surprise.
Former Senator Bob Dole was at the memorial to welcome the veterans and guardians.
“It was really something else,” said Gary Schacher, a guardian. “Here were all of us from Podunk, New York, and Senator Dole’s there to greet us.”
While the group spent two hours at the World War II memorial, Mr. Schacher took veteran Lew Ward on a side trip.
“Lew was in World War II but fought in Korea, too,” Mr. Schacher said. “So I wheeled him down to the Korean memorial. He loved it.”
Veterans visited the Iwo Jima monument and Arlington Cemetery, then enjoyed a quick bus trip around Washington before a brief shopping stop, dinner and back to the airport.
At the Marine memorial, Catherine White, the only woman veteran on the trip, had her photo taken with a couple of present-day Marines.
“It was something, really touching, that I don’t think any of us will forget,” Mr. DeCosta said.
Veterans aren’t likely to forget the entire trip, either.
“It was excellent. Everyone treated us like heroes,” said Leroy Fan Schaick, an Army veteran.
“I was really happy with it,” echoed Mr. DeSanto. “It was my first time there. I never thought I’d have a chance to go.”
Guardians felt the same way, especially when the veterans were so appreciative.
“They were so excited,” said Barbara Furlong, a guardian with her husband, Greg.
“How do you surround yourself with all these older men and they act like 17-year-olds? They just kept thanking us. Everyone was in awe.”
But it was a long, long day. Most didn’t arrive home till 11pm or midnight.
“They were on a high when we got back. They were wired. We were exhausted,” laughed Mr. Furlong.
For the veterans––and guardians––the trip was worth the effort.
“We all did our job,” said Mr. DeCosta, thinking back to the war. “These people did theirs. They deserve a big thank you.”

* * *
Leatherstocking Honor Flight is organizing another trip for November 19. Members are looking for veterans and guardians to make the trip. For more information, call the county Office for the Aging at 295-2001.
”It’s a great trip,” Mr. Van Schaick said. “If I thought I could, I’d sign up again. But that wouldn’t be fair to other vets.”
Leatherstocking is also seeking donations to fund the trip. Donations may be sent to Leatherstocking Honor Flight, PO Box 621, Cobleskill.