Photo submitted by Warren County School District Col. David Wortman presents the flag to the family of Cpl. Daniel Stroup who served in the U.S. Army in the Korean War. Before he passed away in April, Stroup was signed up to participate in the Honor Flight this weekend.

Five Warren County service-men and -women shipped out Friday for a short tour of honor.

The veterans are in Washington D.C. today, visiting the memorials erected in their honor and in honor of those with whom they served.

To honor their service, and ensure that they have the opportunity to visit their memorials, the veterans were provided free round-trip travel and meals by Buffalo Niagara Honor Flight.

On Friday, those veterans — Leonard Kesterholt (U.S. Army, Korea), Pete Trask (U.S. Army, Korea), Dick Johnson (U.S. Army, Vietnam), Bunky Froman (U.S. Army, Korea), and Lee Jones (U.S. Air Force, Korea) — participated in a send-off event at Warren Area High School.

Korean War Veteran Daniel Stroup Jr. was signed up to join the flight. Stroup died on April 14. His family participated in the send-off event.

Times Observer photo by Brian Ferry Korean War veterans (left) Leonard Kesterholt and Pete Trask are honored Friday morning at a send-off event at Warren Area High School prior to their Buffalo Niagara Honor Flight.

Although they are not part of the flight, World War II veterans William Martin and Paul Upchurch attended and were recognized at the event.

“Today is your day,” School Board President Donna Zariczny said. “A day for us to show you how much you are appreciated. Students from all of our schools have contributed to help make your day special.”

A group of students from Youngsville Middle School read the poems they wrote for the event.

There was a ‘signing day’ event for about a dozen county students who will enter military service once they finish school.

Students had made posters that lined the aisles in the auditorium.

Times Observer photo by Brian Ferry Warren County Career Center students cheer as a bus carrying five Warren County veterans to a Buffalo Niagara Honor Flight passes by.

A display specific to each veteran was made by students at the Warren County Career Center.

Students at Sheffield Area Middle High School made wooden plaques and career center students made laser-engraved glass plaques.

Students from throughout the district wrote letters to the veterans.

Honor Flight presented a number of gifts, including hats, shirts, and muffins from middle school students in Grand Island, N.Y.

And there were three patriotic-themed performances — by the Warren Area High School Band, the Warren Area High School Madrigals, and Youth Connection.

Times Observer photo by Brian Ferry Korean War veteran Bunky Froman salutes Col. David Wortman at a Buffalo Niagara Honor Flight send-off event Friday at Warren Area High School.

“You need to understand the sacrifices these veterans made for you at a very young age,” Buffalo Niagara Honor Flight President Tom Petrie said.

“We are here to celebrate with you and thank you for your selfless service,” Col. David Wortman said. “We’re here today to let you know that we have a tremendous respect for your service and your sacrifice.”

“Decades ago, they answered our nation’s call to arms,” Wortman said. “These men and woman swore an oath to defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic.”

“This sacrifice involved their families, their friends, and their loved ones,” he said. “Many of their friends and buddies never returned. Those returning must always bear the burden of war.”

Warren County District Attorney Rob Greene, Skyla Govier, president of Blue Star Mothers of Kinzua, and City of Warren Mayor Maurice Cashman all spoke, honoring the assembled veterans.

Times Observer photo by Brian Ferry Korean War veteran Pete Trask moves through the halls of Warren Area High School as applauding students line the way.

From the auditorium, the veterans processed through the halls of the high school where the student body applauded and waved flags.

The processional continued after the veterans boarded a tour bus. With an escort of City of Warren Police, Warren County Sheriff’s Office, Pennsylvania State Police, and Pennsylvania Game Commission vehicles, the bus drove past the students of both Warren Area Elementary Center and Warren County Career Center who lined the roads to see them off.

“I am convinced that I made the right choice in 1952 to raise my right hand and be sworn into the U.S. Air Force,” Jones said. “My tour of duty changed my life for the better and has always held me in good stead.”

“It is my pleasure to have been included and truly my honor to travel with this military group,” she said. “‘Those who serve make it a better world for others and for themselves.'”

The bus went to McKean County to pick up more veterans before heading back to Buffalo where the group would meet up with even more. The veterans were in for a long day, according to Petrie. Their flight was scheduled to leave shortly after 6 a.m. and they are expected to return at around 11 p.m.

Times Observer photo by Brian Ferry Korean War veteran Lee Jones stands beside a display of her military service at a Buffalo Niagara Honor Flight send-off event Friday at Warren Area High School.

It was the first Warren County visit by Buffalo Niagara Honor Flight. It won’t be the last.

The organization and the district plan to hold events twice each year, with the next scheduled for October 13.

Times Observer photo by Brian Ferry Students lining the halls of Warren Area High School applaud and wave flags as Vietnam War veteran Dick Johnson walks through Friday morning as part of his Buffalo Niagara Honor Flight send-off.