Around thirty veterans spent a beautiful afternoon on Lake Delhi on Wednesday.
You’ve heard of the Honor Flight – well, this was an Honor Float. The idea came from F&M Bank Executive Vice President Keith Kramer.
After being treated to lunch at Smokey’s Bar & Grill, veterans from across Delaware County, along with their spouses or guests, boarded nine pontoons and headed out on the water, with U.S. flags adorning the boats and waving in the wind.
Manchester veterans Steve Smith, Mike Zellner and Glenn Nystel were looking forward to a relaxing afternoon on the water touring Lake Delhi.
All three veterans spent time serving our country overseas. Nystel served as a military policeman from 1974 to ‘77.
Smith was in the Navy from 1962 to ‘66.
Zellner was in the service from 1973 to ‘82.
Larry Aschbrenner also spent time in the service.
Aschbrenner lives on Lake Delhi and was happy to serve as one of the boat drivers on Wednesday’s Honor Float.
Aschbrenner – just like Smith, Zellner and Nystel – has been on an Honor Flight and appreciated the thought of an Honor Float.
And just like an Honor Flight, you could find people waving to the veterans and thanking them for their service – including a group of Romper Room motorcyclists who had gathered on a bridge over Lake Delhi waving flags as the veterans’ boats floated by.
With the veterans all smiles after returning back to the dock, Kramer says there’s no doubt they need to make the Honor Float an annual event.
photos courtesy of Janelle Tucker/KMCH
