WALDEN, N.Y. (Feb. 28, 2024) — After a distinguished 10 years of service as chairman of the Board of Directors of Hudson Valley Honor Flight, Frank Kimler has stepped down and will begin to shift his focus to the national level. Taking over the chairmanship is Louis J. Ingrassia Jr., current Commissioner of Public Works and Co-Director of the Office of Emergency Management for Town of Wallkill in Orange County, N.Y.
Under Kimler’s guidance, HVHF significantly expanded its coverage area and added flights leaving from Westchester County Airport. HVHF subsequently has achieved milestones of serving more than 2,000 veterans and organizing more than 30 flights to Washington, D.C.
Ingrassia, recently added to the Board of Directors, has been volunteering for HVHF for more than 10 years. He brings a wealth of community knowledge and professional experience to the role of chairman. The Town of Wallkill resident has deep experience with local fire districts and additionally serves as Highway Superintendent.
HVHF provides a once-in-a-lifetime flight to Washington, D.C., where veterans are transported around the district by bus to visit war memorials, attend a dinner in their honor and then return home. Each veteran is escorted by a personal guardian and the HVHF flight team for the day-long trip.
HVHF is funded solely by the generosity of its donors. If you’d like to donate, please visit hvhonorflight.com/donate.
About Hudson Valley Honor Flight
Hudson Valley Honor Flight (HVHF) is a 501c3 nonprofit organization which “Honors American Veterans” for all their sacrifices. HVHF transports these heroes to Washington, D.C., to visit memorials at no cost to them. It is the local hub of the National Honor Flight Network (which consists of more than 100 independent non-profit “hubs” across America). HVHF flies multiple times a year out of Stewart International Airport and Westchester County Airport. It serves veterans from the following counties: Orange (N.Y.), Ulster (N.Y.), Dutchess (N.Y.), Westchester (N.Y.), Rockland (N.Y.), Sullivan (N.Y.), Putnam (N.Y.), Pike (Pa.), Bergen (N.J.), and Fairfield (Conn.). Veterans from other surrounding counties are considered as well. Top priority is given to veterans of WWII, followed by Korean War, Cold War, Vietnam and all terminally ill veterans. For more information, visit hvhonorflight.com.
PHOTO: Louis J. Ingrassia Jr.
