PHOTOS BY BRENNA WHITE / THE VILLAGE REPORTER
WELCOME HOME … “King Louie,” Arborist, is delighted by family and friends celebrating his arrival.
VETERANS … Robert Ondo of Delta, and Edward Berg of Wayne.
FAMILY … Jeff Zimmerman, Harold Stickley of Wauseon, Jocelyn Stickley, and Carmen Zimmerman join together as the Vietnam veteran returns home.
PHOTO PROVIDED / THE VILLAGE REPORTER
VISITING MEMORIAL … Four veterans stand beside the Marine Corps War Memorial, also known as the Iwo Jima Memorial, outside the Arlington National Cemetery.
By: Brenna White
THE VILLAGE REPORTER
publisher@thevillagereporter.com
Before sunrise on September 9, 2025, veterans from across Northwest Ohio gathered at Toledo Express Airport for a journey that was decades in the making.
Escorted by Sheriff Deputies from Hancock, Wood, and Lucas Counties, they boarded buses and planes not as soldiers, but as honored guests. Mission #32 of Flag City Honor Flight carried 82 men and women to Washington, D.C., for what organizers call “One More Tour… with Honor.”
For Flag City Honor Flight, which operates as a 100% volunteer-run nonprofit, the mission continues. Since its founding, the organization has flown thousands of veterans at no cost, ensuring those who once wore the uniform are never forgotten.
On this night, as veterans saluted their fellow soldiers and shook hands with strangers turned friends, it was clear the mission succeeded once again.
Tammy Leinbach of Yoder Machinery, the flight’s primary sponsor, said supporting the program is about gratitude.
“Our families and businesses appreciate the opportunity to recognize and thank our veterans. It’s a small way we can give back in comparison to the great sacrifices and contributions our veterans have made to our country.
The day was packed with solemn visits and moments of reflection. Veterans walked the quiet grounds of the Air Force and Navy memorials before continuing to the imposing black granite of the Vietnam Wall, the Korean Memorial, and the proud arches of the World War II memorial.
Later stops included the Marine Memorial, the Military Women’s Memorial, and Arlington National Cemetery, where they witnessed the Changing of the Guard in reverent silence.
“It was a life-changing experience,” Robert Ondo, a Delta resident, commented. “I had never seen it before, and I was in awe.” For many, it was their first opportunity to stand before these monuments.
For some, the journey was deeply personal. JB Orendorff of Bryan, Ohio, who served six years in the U.S. Navy, said the trip brought back both camaraderie and memories of loss.
“I’ve never seen friendships like the ones you make in the service. Two hundred and ten guys on a ship – you become brothers,” Orendorff says.
His three deployments took him across the Pacific, from Hong Kong to Australia, but the memorials in Washington carried a weight of their own.
He was especially drawn back to the Vietnam Wall. “I visited in 1987 with my family, and I’ll never forget finding the name of another Orendorff from Pennsylvania who was killed in combat,” Orendorff recalled. “I was sure that we must somehow be related.”
When asked about advice to share with younger generations when it comes to the importance of military service, he stated, “If you are not sure what you want to do in this world, remember this: service in the military will make more of an individual, more of an adult, than most anything else I can think of.
“Do more growing up, make more friends, and you will become a better person if you go into service.”
“To stand here again, surrounded by fellow veterans, it means something words can’t really capture,” he affirmed.
Others expressed a desire to share lessons with the next generation. Samuel Grime of Archbold, who served three years during the Vietnam era, spoke candidly about the importance of service.
“This is your country. If you don’t defend it, it will be taken over,” he said firmly. “Our boys go everywhere to defend, and service will transform you as a person.”
“I wasn’t a good student – didn’t get good grades, didn’t stay up in school. I joined the service right after graduation to serve in the Vietnam War.
“I wanted to do what was good for my country,” Grime recounted, “to learn discipline, and be there for my country in time of need.”
The day was packed with activities as Veterans toured Washington D.C. Mission BBQ served a free meal at the Military Women’s Memorial, along with a wreath laying at Arlington National Cemetery.
The return home was just as stirring as the journey itself. By 9:00 p.m., the Grand Aire hangar in Swanton was overflowing with family members, neighbors, and supporters. Boy Scouts helped usher the crowd, while tables filled with pizza and snacks kept the energy high.
The evening’s celebration was made a little sweeter thanks to generous donations from Kathy and Jim McVicker, who provided desserts for the crowd.
The treats were prepared with the help of the Rossford High School SOS (Serving Our Soldiers) Club, whose students have taken an active role in showing appreciation for local veterans.
When the veterans finally entered, the hall erupted in cheers, flags waved overhead, and laughter mixed with tears. Each veteran was honored with a handmade quilt, along with packets of congratulatory letters and booklets recognizing their service.
Entertainment for the evening was provided by the Genoa American Legion Band, which performed a rousing lineup of American classics, military marches, and service branch theme songs.
Their music accompanied the veterans’ walk of honor, adding pride and patriotism that lifted the already electric atmosphere of the packed reception hall.
Williams and Fulton County had a total of eight veterans participating in the September 9, 2025, Flag City Honor Flight, representing communities across Northwest Ohio.
They are as follows: Samuel Grime of Archbold, Vietnam War Veteran; John Young of Archbold, Korean War Veteran; Robert Ondo of Delta, Vietnam War Veteran; Paul Boyers of Wauseon, Vietnam War Veteran; Harold Stickley of Wauseon, Vietnam War Veteran; Andy Kaufmann of Bryan, Vietnam War Veteran; JB Orendorff of Bryan, Vietnam War Veteran; Gene Kunkle of West Unity, Vietnam War Veteran
Andy Kaufmann stated, “D.C. was wonderful – beautiful weather and good people. I was so surprised when I received the letter that I was selected. I feel thankful to be made a priority along with my other Vietnam Veterans.”
Gene Kunkle of West Unity expressed gratitude for the support shown at the welcome-home event.
“The crowd, the kids, the music; it was overwhelming in a good way,” he commented. “I don’t think any of us expected that kind of turnout.”
“It’s just nice to be remembered,” Harold Stickley mentioned. “It’s nice to be here with my family.”
As the evening wound down and the last notes of patriotic music faded, veterans embraced family members, held tightly to handmade quilts, and carried home more than just memories of a long day in Washington, D.C.
They carried the weight of gratitude from a community that will not forget their service.
For the retired soldiers of Archbold, Bryan, Wauseon, Delta, and West Unity, the Flag City Honor Flight was not only a journey to the nation’s capital but also a reminder that their sacrifices continue to echo across generations.