The call went out and five Sloatsburg veterans from the Greatest Generation answered and will fly to Washington, D.C.

Hudson Valley Honor Flight trip to Washington, D.C.

The Sloatsburg WWII veterans will join with 84 others from around the Hudson Valley who served their country some 70 years ago when the Hudson Valley chapter of Honor Flight leaves Stewart International Airport on Saturday, April 11, with a special pre-flight ceremony beginning at 7:45 a.m. .

The Sloatsburg veterans include Sidney Gettenberg, Harrison Bush, George Heller, Alexander Massaro, and Robert Wagenhoffer, who will be joined by a family or friend companion to accompany them on their sponsored flight to and from the nation’s capitol to take in the sites and memorials. Michael Downes will accompany Gettenberg, Richard Walls will join Sloatsburg Village Historian Harrison Bush, George Heller will have George E. Heller by his side, Massaro, a former chief of the Sloatsburg Fire Department will have his son Anthony Massaro with him, and Wagenhoffer will be attended by family member Delores (Wagenhoffer) Menella.

Mike Downes, Sidney Gettenberg guardian, said he’s excited about the full day of tributes and surprises in store for all the participants, including an inflight “Mail Call,” where the veterans will be handed notes and cards and other items from students, boy scouts, girl scouts, family members, and friends, thanking the former soldiers — just like from back in the door.

Michael Downes encouraged others to thank a veteran for his/her service by just writing a note.

Address any correspondence to Sloatsburg’s veterans HV Honor Flight c/o Dalton, 330 Meadow Avenue, Newburgh, NY 12550 — the letters will be put into separate mail bags for the vets (get them in the mail on or before April 7th to ensure they make the flight).

Hudson Valley Honor Flight (HVHF), part of the Honor Flight Network, is a non-profit organization that has a core mission to fly WWII veterans in the Hudson Valley to Washington, D.C. to visit the various war memorials — at no cost. Hudson Valley Honor Flight covers the cost of the participating veterans the day trip to Washington, D.C. The Village of Sloatsburg has helped to cover expenses for village vets.

Thanks to Daphne Downes for information that helped make this article happen.