He’s an advocate, a Brockport community volunteer, and, most importantly, a veteran. Brockport resident George Dahl recently traveled with 61 other veterans on Honor Flight Mission 80 to Washington, D.C.
The 24-hour Honor Flight mission provides the veterans an opportunity to tour the U.S. War Memorials. But one of the greatest purposes of the trip is for the veterans to reunite with their fellow service members. This trip re-creates the sense of comradeship that members felt during their military service.
Dahl, age 80, completed his application to travel on an Honor Flight months ago. When notified that he was approved, he knew this would be a trip of a lifetime.
Dahl’s military life
Dahl was just 18 years old when he enlisted in the Air Force in 1961.
“I really was not sure what I wanted to do after I graduated from high school, so I enlisted with three other friends,” Dahl said. “I was always interested in planes, so that’s why I enlisted in the Air Force.”
After basic training, Dahl was assigned to a technical training school in Texas, where he trained to be an aviation mechanic. From there, Dahl was sent to several different bases: Chanute Air Force Base in Illinois and a Strategic Air Command base in New Hampshire at Pease Air National Guard Base. In 1963, he was assigned to a Royal Canadian Air Force base in Edmonton, Canada. His first assignment overseas was in Okinawa, Japan. His next transfer landed him at five refueling bases in Thailand, specifically Dung Mong. E4 Airman First Class Dahl maintained and repaired ground equipment that supported aircraft in combat areas. These refueling bases supported bombers involved in warfare in Vietnam.
“I enjoyed being out of the country, seeing new landscapes and different cultures. I was overseas for about 18 months,” Dahl said.
Life when he returned home
He returned home in 1965. “My folks lived in Batavia. I was guaranteed a job at Loblaws, a supermarket chain. I worked there part-time during high school,” he said.
It was there he began a career as a produce manager. Dahl earned national awards for his produce displays. Shortly after, he was transferred to the Loblaws in Brockport.
Dahl married his wife, Donna, in 1967. The newlyweds bought a home in Kendall but eventually moved to Brockport, where their roots in this community were planted, and Dahl began a new chapter in his family and business life. As his family flourished with the addition of four children, he purchased a business called Cook Displays Studios. He is best known for his next business venture, Cook-Dahl, Inc. This was a full-service remodeling company that specialized in kitchens, bathrooms, interiors, and home additions.
Why he gives his time to his community
Anyone who lives in the Brockport area knows that George Dahl is synonymous with community service. Dahl is a member of the Brockport Fire Department, a past president and a current member of the Brockport Rotary, and one of the founding members of the Brockport Integrated Service Club Organizations (BISCO). The mission of this association is to bring local service organizations together to cooperatively and collectively contribute to the betterment and well-being of eligible individuals or groups of children in the westernmost towns of Monroe County.
In the past, this group’s biggest project was The Brockport Arts Festival. The Village of Brockport now presents this festival.
Brockport resident Lorraine D’Angelo is a Rotarian. She has known Dahl for 15 years. When asked to describe Dahl, she said, “George is fun-loving, jovial, and truly is a giver. Brockport is so fortunate to have him as a resident and community servant.”
Dahl believes in giving his time for many reasons. “The satisfaction of helping others and doing something good for my community is why I gave and still give my time. I feel that if you work in a community, you should always be able to contribute in some way,” Dahl said.
A trip of a lifetime
Dahl, along with his trip guardian, John Egan, traveled with four Korean War veterans, seven Cold War veterans, six Cold War/Vietnam War veterans, and 42 Vietnam War veterans. Their branches of service are the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, and Coast Guard.
When Dahl asked Egan to accompany him, Egan was taken aback. “I was really honored. I’ve known George and the Dahl family all my life. The Dahl and Egan families are neighbors,” Egan said.
Dahl asked Egan to accompany him for many reasons. “John’s Dad was one of my best friends. He passed when John was young, and so I made sure to keep track of John,” Dahl said.
Egan added, “George gave me my first job.” Over the years, Dahl and Egan became friends, and both are Rotarians. “John is a ‘get things done’ kind of person. I knew he would be a great person to go on this trip with me,” Dahl said.
The group started at 4 a.m. on Saturday, September 30, with breakfast at the airport. They traveled to Baltimore and were motor coached to the war memorials in Washington, D.C., for a full day. The Mission 80 motor coaches returned late afternoon to their hotel for a special banquet. Early Sunday, October 1, the vets were shuttled to the airport for their return flight to Rochester.
The veterans and guardians returned home not just as war veterans but as heroes. The Frederick Douglass Greater Rochester International Airport was brimming with community members, veterans, family, and friends, all cheering for the vets.
Egan noted how overwhelming the trip was.
“It truly was unreal. To witness the reception at both airports, including the motorcycle escorts, and watch the veterans’ reactions was humbling. The humility these veterans displayed was moving,” Egan said. “Some of the veterans shared their service stories, which was inspirational. What these vets experienced was hard to believe.”
When asked about his trip, Dahl said, “It was phenomenal. The Honor Flight organization is an incredible organization. Our trip went off without a hitch.”
Dahl added how the trip gave the vets the opportunity to connect and make friends. Not only was this Honor Flight journey a chance to bond with fellow service people, but also, the vets were able to reflect upon their service to our country.
“Some of the vets were able to speak about their war experiences.”
Dahl shared how the tour of the United States monuments was very moving.
“When we visited Arlington National Cemetery and witnessed the Changing of the Guard, you could hear a pin drop. It was very sobering and brought some tears to our eyes,” he said.
Dahl highly recommends any vet to apply to go on an Honor Flight.
“It’s something that you will never forget. It’s a tearful and joyful experience,” Dahl said.
About Honor Flight
by Maggie Fitzgibbon
According to its website, Honor Flight, Inc. and affiliated hubs in the national Honor Flight Network are private, not-for-profit organizations created to honor America’s Veterans for their many sacrifices. There are over 130 regional hubs. There is no cost for a veteran to travel on an Honor Flight.
Each year, this national organization flies veterans to Washington, D.C., for a weekend full of comradeship and friendship as they tour the nation’s monuments. The flying season runs from April to October.
Rochester became an official hub in the Honor Flight Network in June 2008.
The Welcome Home
It was a highly charged, emotional afternoon on Sunday, October 1, as 59 local veterans made their return to the Rochester International Airport. Hundreds of veterans, Honor Flight volunteers, friends, family, and community members lined the airport hallways, all waiting for the Honor Flight veterans to return.
Rush resident and Navy veteran Larry Meston wanted to greet returnees and welcome them home. Meston served in the Navy from 1971 until 1975. This Vietnam vet became emotional as he spoke of his war experiences.
“For over 30 years, I never told anyone or spoke of my service during the Vietnam War. We were not accepted, and we were not recognized for our service during the war,” he said as he held back tears. “I came today to make sure that my fellow comrades are welcomed home just like I was last year when I went on an Honor Flight.”
For the last two years, Nina LeFrois has volunteered for Honor Flight. Her reason for volunteering is simple.
“These vets did an awful lot and gave up so much for our country. So I can spend my afternoon here at the airport, helping with this welcome home event.”
As the veterans made their way through the airport, it was a moving scene. They were greeted with salutes, hugs, kisses, tears, and many handshakes. The crowd cheered and shouted, “Welcome Home!”
These veterans are living memorials to our country’s sacrifice and are so very deserving of this welcome home, something many were long denied. Like many others, this writer shed a few tears. As I watched some wheelchair-bound Honor Flight veterans stand and salute their comrades during the parade, I could not help but feel an immense amount of gratitude.
Welcome Home, vets, and thank you for risking your life to protect others.
To learn more about Honor Flight, visit http://honorflightrochester.org.
