Johnston’s Ricci takes trip of a lifetime

LIVING LEGENDS: 101-year-old Orlando Ricci, seated right, met Sen. Bob Dole during his Honor Flight trip to Washington, D.C.

(Submitted photos)

AT THE MONUMENT: Orlando Ricci, a WWII vet and his daughter, Elizabeth, toured the WWII Monument in D.C.

READY FOR TAKEOFF: Ricci took his first flight in over 70 years when he joined 23 other veterans in an Honor Flight celebrating their service to country.

Johnston Sun Rise · Thursday, April 6, 2017 3:06 pm

By John Howell

The Honor Flight Network that initiated the program in 2005 to bring World War II veterans to the nation’s capital to visit the World War II memorial, other war memorials and Arlington National Cemetery has ranked the Rhode Island Fire Chiefs Honor Flight as the top hub nationally.

Such an achievement, however, wasn’t on the mind of retired Providence Fire Chief George Farrell as 23 veterans and 28 guardians, some dampened by the drenching rain arrived early Saturday morning for the 15th honor flight. Farrell has been running the Rhode Island flights since the program started here more than three years ago.

The daylong event started with a 5 a.m. gathering at Station 8 in Warwick where the veterans and their guardians boarded buses for Green Airport. Escorts of fire apparatus and police cruisers, with lights flashing, accompanied the buses to the terminal where the veterans were welcomed by a phalanx of uniformed police, fire, military personnel, local militia such as the Pawtuxet Rangers and community groups including Boy and Girl Scouts plus applauding passengers and the Rhode Island Professional Firefighters Pipes and Drum Corps. The veterans were given a similar reception on arriving at the Baltimore-Washington Airport where they were escorted to the capital.

The day includes visits by members of Congress and a dinner where a “mail call” is conducted and each veteran is individually recognized and thanked for their service. The group returned to Rhode Island the same day, arriving just before 11 p.m.

As Farrell remarked as veterans and guardians awaited departure Saturday morning it’s a long day, but frequently the veterans are so enthused by the experience that they are wide eyed while their comparatively youthful companions are ready to turn in. With declining ranks of World War II veterans, the program is being extended to Korean War veterans. The next flight is planned for June 3 with as many as 50 veterans participating.