On this Father’s Day just passed, more than 50 deceased military veterans from World War II, the majority from Cazenovia, were honored, along with their families, by the Cazenovia American Legion through the “Flags of Our Heroes” program, which is a subset of Honor Flight Syracuse.

Through Flags of Our Heroes, photographs of 56 deceased WWII veterans were brought to the WWII Memorial during the April Syracuse Honor Flight trip, set up on an easel with a folded American flag, and photographed by Cazenovia photographer and Post 88 Vice Commander Gene Gissin. Of those 55 veterans, 51 were from Cazenovia.

Those photographs, along with a certificate of honor, were presented to the families of the deceased veterans in a special ceremony on Sunday, June 21, at the Cazenovia American Legion Post 88.

“This is a unique event to honor some of our World War II veterans,” said Post 88 Chaplain Al Keilen, who gave the invocation. “Pictures tell a story that perhaps are known only to the family and closest friends.”

During the event, each veteran’s photograph was shown on an overhead screen for all to see, accompanied by the ringing of the bell in their honor — as is down for fallen veterans on Memorial Day in Cazenovia — and the photograph of the veteran, along with a certificate from Honor Flight Syracuse was presented to the veteran’s family member(s).

More than 16 million Americans served in the military during WWII, and less than 800,000 are alive today, said Thomas Shaw, director of Flags of Our Heroes. Many of these veterans passed away before they could travel to Washington, D.C. to see the national memorial created in their honor.

“These we seek to honor, and their families … to show the respect they so richly deserve,” Shaw said.

Gissin, who took the photographs, said the experience “was such a beautiful thing,” and it was a project that could not have been completed with the support of the Post 88 members and Post 88 Commander Richard Benner.

“It was an honor to do it,” Gissin said.

Philma Kennedy, who received a photo and certificate in honor of her husband Ned Kennedy and her brother-in-law Joe Kennedy, thought the event was “a lovely ceremony.” Her husband was one of four Kennedy brothers, all from Cazenovia, who served in the war — and all returned home.

Wendy Taylor, whose husband Fred Taylor died last year and who was honored at the event, said it was a “wonderful” ceremony.

“It’s so moving to see all the other families of veterans who died to be commemorated today. It was very moving; I was glad to be a part of it,” she said.

The Cazenovia veterans who were honored with photos at the event included: Edwin Ammann, Alan Amos, Carl Barilla, Walter P. Bleda, Richard Carr, Edward R. Clarke, Burton Coe, Robert J. Colligan, Joseph Leo Costello, Albert H. Davis II, Donald Debois, Donald deVore, Thomas N. Dougherty, Robert R. Dumas, Franklin Durfee, Kenneth Fowler, Robert W. Gregg, Charles Gregg, Robert J. Gunnerman, Richard L. Helbig, Bernard S. Holt, Robert H. Kelly, Joe Kennedy, John C. Kennedy, Ned Kennedy, Tom Kennedy, Jack McCullough, Nelson Menard, Janice Isabel Mott, Roscoe Mott, Francis C. Navin, Elwood Norris, Willis Z. Parker, Harold Pinder, John Joseph Pinder, Donald Pugh, Frank Race, Bernard L. Richards, Jack Ryan, Gordon W. Scott, Clarence Snow, Robert J. Stacy, Leroy John Stinson, Albert C. Tait, Fred taylor, George Jewett Travis, William Thomas Termain, Donald C. Way, Robert Webster, Edward J. Weinheimer and Robert G. Wester.

The next Honor Flight Syracuse trip to Washington, D.C. is scheduled to occur Oct. 3, and the Flags of Our Heroes program is still accepting requests to bring more veterans photos on the trip to be photographed at the WWII Memorial.

Anyone interested in honoring a deceased veteran from their family through the Flags of Our Heroes program, contact Honor Flight Syracuse at HonorFlightSyracuse.org or contact Thomas Shaw at [email protected] or 445-9894.

Jason Emerson is editor of the Cazenovia Republican. He can be reached at [email protected].