The Peru Gazette

PLATTSBURGH, N.Y. September 14th 2026 – After years of planning and hoping to create a website that better serves the veterans, families, volunteers, and supporters of North Country Honor Flight, the organization is proud to announce the launch of its brand-new website: northcountryhonorflight.org. The new website provides a modern, accessible, and easier-to-navigate online home for […]

  Seyit Murat Aldas, US Army 1970-1971 Vietnam Seyit was #13 in the draft, and he said this is all he won. He joined the Army as an 11 Bravo Infantryman. He attended boot camp and AIT at Fort Jackson South Carolina.  Seyit was assigned to the 101st Airborne Charlie Company 2nd Battalion 506th Infantry, sent […]

Dennis Bardelcik, US Air Force 1969–1976, Vietnam Era Dennis Bardelcik began his United States Air Force service at the age of 19. Inspired by his older brother, Dennis chose the Air Force and trained as a Navigation and Bombing Trainer Specialist, working with advanced flight simulator technology. During his military career, Dennis worked with F-4 Phantom […]

Plattsburgh, 9/5/26 – U.S. Oval, Veterans Memorial Park – Many people and organizations turned out early this morning to honor the 29 veterans flying to Washington D.C. on Honor Flights 72 and 73. Veteran photos and biographies will be posted tomorrow. As of today, 1,095 veterans, plus their escorts, have flown to Washington D.C. thanks […]

BETA Technologies to unveil one-of-a-kind “P-51 Bustang” during a special 6:30 a.m. event at the U.S. Oval PLATTSBURGH, N.Y. — September 1, 2026 — North Country Honor Flight will send 29 North Country veterans to Washington, D.C., on Saturday, September 5, for a day dedicated to honoring their service and sacrifice. The veterans traveling on […]

John Bingham, US Navy, 1961-1969, Vietnam John felt a duty to serve, following the example of two uncles—one an admiral and the other a physician who served in Korea. Originally hoping to become a submariner, he was unable to pass the pressure test required for submarine training. Instead, he attended Officer Candidate School in Newport, Rhode […]

C. Edward Bombard Jr., US Army, 1960-63, Cold War After basic and clerk-typist training at Fort Dix, Ed trained at Fort Eustis, Virginia, as a Transportation Movement Specialist, coordinating the movement of military vehicles. He was later deployed to North Africa with the 3rd Army, serving in a small unit that oversaw port operations for the […]

ALTONA, NY — Organizers of the Memorial Day Community Car Show have announced that the event originally scheduled for Sunday, May 24, 2026, has been moved to Saturday, May 23, 2026 due to the weather forecast. The event will still be held at Rainbow Banquet Hall, located at 47 Woods Falls Rd in Altona, NY. […]

William Burdo – US Air Force 1973-1993 Vietnam William would enlist in the Air Force because it offered the career field in construction that he wanted. He would receive nearly 1 ½ years of training at McChord AFB as a structural technician.  He would remain at McChord doing building removal and construction until he was shipped […]

Plattsburgh, NY, May 16, 2026 – At 6:15 this morning, law enforcement, fire trucks and hundreds of motorcycles arrived at the U.S. Oval escorting Honor Flights 68 and 69 to their Send-Off Ceremony Click here for the Peru Gazette video

By John T Ryan Doug Brown has a big birthday coming up on December 31, Birthday #105. Tomorrow, Friday, December 5, will also be a big day for Doug; he’ll be leading the Peru Tractor Parade as its Grand Marshal.  Most people know Doug as the longtime owner of Peru Hardware, a rural mail carrier, […]

Plattsburgh – North Country Honor Flights #66 and #67 took to the skies on Saturday, October 4, 2025. Dave Brown took photos of the Send-Off Ceremony and allowed the Peru Gazette to post them. Thank you! Dave.  Gina Bond provided the veteran biographies. The following veterans flew on Flight #67.  Jack Bitter Jr., US Army, 1968-1970, […]

North Country Honor Flights #66 and #67 took to the skies on Saturday, October 4, 2025. Dave Brown took photos of the Send-Off Ceremony and allowed the Peru Gazette to post them. Thank you! Dave.  Gina Bond provided the veteran biographies. These veterans flew on Flight #66.  Daniel Ballantine, US Air Force, 1968-1989, Vietnam Daniel’s specialty […]

Sept. 28 – [PLATTSBURGH, NY] – North Country Honor Flight is proud to announce its upcoming Flights 66 and 67 on Saturday, October 4, 2025, honoring North Country veterans with a once-in-a-lifetime journey to Washington, D.C. This dual mission marks a monumental accomplishment — more than 1,000 North Country veterans will have flown with North […]

Flight 65 flew on September 6, 2025  Stanley Abramczyk Jr. , US Air Force 1963-1986 Vietnam Stan planned to join the Navy, but fate stepped in—the only recruiter there that day was from the Air Force. He pitched aircraft maintenance, and Stan never looked back. For 23 years, he loved what he did, reenlisting again and […]

Flight 64 flew on September 6, 2025  Clement Couture, US Army Reserve 1962-1966 and 1974-1980 Vietnam After basic training, Clem was assigned to the Headquarters Company as a Mechanics Assistant in the motor pool. His job included transporting troops and supplies for training. Before long, he was promoted to dispatcher, sending others into the field. One […]

U.S. Oval, Plattsburgh, NY – September 6, 2025 – North Country Honor Flights 64 and 65 are in the air. As of this evening, the Honor Flight will have transported 980 veterans to and from our nation’s capital, where they visit the memorials honoring their service. Thirty vets are on today’s flights. As usual, there […]

Plattsburgh, Saturday, July 12 – The Sunrise Rotary Mayor’s Cup Regatta & Festival Committee has named the North Country Honor Flight as its 2025 Spirit of Ianelli Award honoree. Sunrise Rotary Club President Wanda Carroll presented the award to Barrie Finnegan, Executive Director of the North Country Honor Flight, along with other members of the […]

Joseph Ambrosio – US Air Force 1976-1982 – Vietnam  Enlisting at the age of 22, Joseph began his journey at Lackland Air Force Base for basic training—eight tough weeks that started with a stern “Get in the jeep and shut up” from the sergeant holding a sign with his name.  After tech school on the […]

Thankfully, the heavier rain held off until the North County Honor Flight send-off ceremony concluded. VIDEO of Flights 62 and 63 being escorted to the flightline follows.

Steven “Steve” Bacon – US Air Force 1972-1999 Vietnam, Cold War One year out of high school, and after numerous jobs, Steve was looking for career stability.  He would enter the Burlington recruiter’s office, seeking a unique experience away from being a farm kid from Vermont.  The Army recruiter wasn’t there that day, so Steve would […]

Peru, NY, May 17, 2025 – Three cheers to these members of the Peru Volunteer Fire Department who traveled to Plattsburgh early this morning to honor the veterans traveling on the North Country Honor Flight.

Click here for the Mountain Lake Story 

Peru CSD will conduct Earth Day celebration workshops involving sixteen (16) environmental education organizations and student presenters from April 15th to April 17th, from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM. This is a three-day event to celebrate Earth Day and bring greater awareness of environmental issues to our students, staff, and community. There will be stations […]