July 27, 2015 (Canandaigua, NY) ─ More than 50 years after returning from the Korean War where he served in the United States Air Force, Horizons resident Dan Troy had the opportunity to fly from Rochester to Washington, D.C. through Honor Flight Rochester.

“They make you feel so important, thanking you for your service and shaking your hand,” he said. “It brought tears to my eyes walking through the airport.”

Honor Flight is a non-profit organization created to transport veterans to the memorials in Washington, D.C. built to honor their service to the nation. Rochester Honor Flight is one of 130 regional hubs.

A graduate of SUNY Geneseo and Elmira College, a former school teacher and house painter, Dan Troy has lived at Horizons for about three years along with his wife Barbara. A retired Airman First Class, he signed up to take part in Honor Flight when the group visited the DePaul Senior Living Community in Canandaigua to give a presentation.

In addition to serving as a veteran, Troy was diagnosed with cancer – Hodgkin’s Lymphoma – four years ago at the age of 80. Although battling the disease has taken a lot out of him, Dan is not letting it slow him down. He has participated in the Relay for Life for 13 years and he said he hopes he and his son can take time out to volunteer with Honor Flight’s ground crew, welcoming returning veterans and raising money to help continue the service.

Dan and his wife Barbara have three children, seven grandchildren and two great grandchildren.

“Being able to experience this has been a true honor,” he said.

For more information about Horizons, please contact Administrator Stacie Major (585) 396-3390 or visit us on Facebook.