BUFFALO, N.Y. — After three postponed trips, the Buffalo/Niagara Honor Flight is once again taking off. Veterans in the Buffalo area will head to D.C. Saturday.

What You Need To Know

  • Three Honor Flights were canceled because of the pandemic

  • Honor Flight starts back up, with coronavirus-era restrictions

  • Friends and family are asked not to gather at the airport for farewells or welcome backs

It’s an all-expense-paid trip to honor their service, but things are a bit different this year.

The trip means a lot to Tom Petrie, the Buffalo/Niagara Honor Flight president. You can tell from the moment he pulls up with his “HONORFLT” license plate.

After the multiple pandemic postponements, he’s working hard to make sure this week’s trip goes off without a hitch.

“Ponchos in case of inclement weather, blankets for all the veterans,” Petrie said, going through some of the items they’ll be bringing along.

There will be some changes.

“Safety is our number one priority,” Petrie remarked.

There won’t be a sendoff or welcome home at the airport. Friends and family are asked not to come there. There will still be a police and Patriot Guard escort.

All 35 veterans taking part, plus their guardians, will be vaccinated and following mask mandates. These protocols are meant to make sure the Honor Flight can continue.

“We have to keep in mind these veterans, their ages, health concerns, and most importantly, COVID. We need to keep them safe,” said Petrie. “If we don't follow the protocols, we could be suspended temporarily or permanently.”

That is something organizers don’t want to see happen. This trip is too special for everyone involved for them to lose it.

“There's good and bad memories," said Petrie. "They're going to feel that day the Vietnam Veterans especially. They're going to go down to the wall, they're going to see, names of their fallen comrades. So that's a pretty emotional day for them. For many, it's the final chapter. It's important that they get there.”

Those taking part are excited to go, as are the people making sure they get there and back safely.

“All the veterans, you know, we live in a free country because of them. So it's important that we continue this mission as long as we possibly can,” Petrie said.

Spectrum News 1 reporter Viktoria Hallikaar will be tagging along on the Honor Flight. She’ll bring back the stories of the men and women taking part.