Taking their honor flight

After waiting for two years because of the coronavirus pandemic, East Meadow residents Robert Chiappone, and Vincent Morreale, both Vietnam veterans, got to take a trip in early June to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C.

The trip was organized by Honor Flight Long Island, an organization that for 15 years has flown more than 1,800 veterans to Washington to visit the monuments created in their honor. It is part of a national network of organizations that offers the free flights. This was the first flight that was primarily Vietnam veterans.

“It was well worth it, it was unbelievable,” Morreale, 74 said. “From the moment we took off to every facet of the trip, it was amazing.”

32 vets went on the trip that left on a Southwest Airlines flight out of MacArthur Airport on June 4. There were water cannons going over the plane, Morreale, who served in the United States Air Force from June 1964 to June 1968, said. Once they landed in Baltimore, they were escorted by motorcycles down to Washington D.C. where they saw the memorial.

“Every place we went,” he said. “There were so many people there to greet us.”

The really outstanding part of the trip, though, he said was when they came back. There were about 500 to 600 people there to greet them. “It was one of the most amazing things I’ve ever experienced and everybody was teary-eyed,” he said. We didn’t get anything when we came back (from Vietnam) so this was a real welcome home.”

Chiappone, 75, went on the trip because Morreale encouraged him to go, and he said that he was glad that he went.

“I’m not really an emotional guy,” Chiappone, who served in the United States Army from February 1966 to November 1967. “But when we came back and they opened the doors and we saw everyone waiting for us, it was amazing.”

On August 13, a special ceremony was held at the American Airpower Museum in Farmingdale to recall the trip they all took. The ceremony was organized by the museum and HFLI.

“We take for granted that we live in the greatest country in the world, but it’s only because of the service and sacrifice that you have made, which really makes it possible,” County Legislator Tom McKevitt said at the ceremony. “It really makes you think sometimes, ‘what is the purpose of a monument?’ It’s for all those who are both there and not there to recognize the great sacrifices made.”

To make the trip even more special, each flight participant received a personalized hardcover book that HFLI put together for them. Each book has pictures specific to whose book it is.

“Often our veterans ask what they can do to show their appreciation for this day,” Jeff Rosenking, the emcee and a volunteer with HFLI. “You don’t need to do anything else, that’s why we’re thanking you.”

“We waited our turn but we got to go and it was well worth it,” Morreale said. “It’s great that I went with my brothers. I’ll never forget it.”