Rich Palm, a Navy veteran from Cranberry Township, recently took part in an Honor Flight from Pittsburgh to Washington, D.C., with about 150 other veterans. The Honor Flight program aims to honor veterans with a day at national memorials. Palm described the trip as inspiring, especially noting the stark contrast in public support from when he served in the 1960s and ’70s, a time when wearing his uniform in public was discouraged. Today, he was warmly thanked by families and children, embodying a new level of appreciation for veterans. The highlight of his journey came when he landed back in Pittsburgh and was surprised with a “mail call,” receiving 92 letters from friends, family, and local students, a meaningful welcome he never experienced after his military service. Cranberry Area High School journalism students streamed the Veterans Day ceremony, overcoming technical difficulties to share Palm’s memorable day with the community on their YouTube page.
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