By Kimberly Gasuras
CCN Reporter
Several local veterans recently embarked on a journey they will never forget.
Chuck Christman, Tom Miller, Garry Crabaugh, Bob Leonhardt, Tom Schiefer, Dick Myers, Mitch Alban and Dwight Leonhardt were selected to take an Honor Flight from Columbus to Washington D.C. on April 28.
“Our group went along with a few others from Crawford County,” Christman said.
The others include Dick Wolfe of Galion and Russ Bayes, Larry Wagner, Denny Lepp and Gene Kocher.
Christman said the group was treated like royalty from the moment they arrived at Port Columbus to begin their trip.
“We had guardians assigned to us that made sure we had everything we needed and that we didn’t get lost,” Christman said.
The Honor Flight is funded through donations and veterans of World War II, the Korean War and the war in Vietnam are eligible to apply to attend.
“Our flight was sponsored by Gahanna Jefferson Public Schools,” Christman said. “They donated $200,000 for the trip.”
“We landed in Baltimore, Maryland, and people were there to greet us,” Crabaugh said.
Schiefer said that they visited each of the memorials of the three wars.
“It was a very interesting, moving and fun day,” Schiefer said.
Even though it was raining when the group left Columbus, the weather improved once they were in Washington D.C.
“It was a great experience and the weather was perfect,” Miller said.
Bob Leonhardt said the best part of the trip for him was visiting Arlington Cemetery.
Crabaugh said two of the guardians are sisters and one of them was born in the same hospital as his wife.
“Francesca (Frankie) Treglia and her sister, Alexandra, were two of our guardians,” Crabaugh said. “It was really interesting that Frankie was born at the same hospital as my wife.”
Christman said that one of the nurses that was part of the Honor Flight, Sara Sipe Park, is a 1979 graduate of Bucyrus High School.
Myers said one of his favorite parts of the trip was visiting the World War II memorial.
“It is pretty impressive,” Myers said.
Christman said they viewed the Vietnam wall, including the names of the three men from Crawford County who lost their lives in Vietnam.
“Chuck Collene, Elijah Smith and Ed Sharrock,” Christman said.
Bob Leonhardt said Wes Deaver, who is from Bucyrus, works at the Pentagon.
“He came to see us while we were there,” Deaver said.
Schiefer said that Dick Myers called Deaver to let him know when the group we be there.
“Wes is a major in the Marine Corps and works at the Pentagon. He spent time with us at the World War II and Korea memorials,” Schiefer said.
Alban said each veteran was given a challenge coin to take home with them and that they were given a water spray salute by firefighters when their plane landed in Maryland.
All the men said the reception they received at Port Columbus when they arrived back home at approximately 9 p.m. on April 28, was one they will never forget, especially the Vietnam veterans.
“There were at least 1,000 people there to greet us. Everyone was cheering and shaking our hands, some were crying,” Christman said. “It was very touching.”