Honoring those who served

Nine area veterans took a trip back to their days in military uniform May 11 by touring the Youngstown Air Reserve Station in Vienna. Residents of both Shepherd of the Valley in Boardman and Washington Square in Warren had lunch at the base and toured a C-130 plane on the tarmac. Citizen Airmen supporting the event at the air station said it's a way for them to show the veterans that they appreciate their service and sacrifice. "They are our heritage. The legacy that they have handed down to us we try to honor and continue to the best of our ability and we have to get these guys out here and let the young guys see them and know where our heritage came from," said Lt. Col. Donald Milliken, squad commander of the 773rd Airlift Squad. A ceremony was also held for one of the veterans in attendance who received an honorary set of Air Force wings for his service in WWII as a naval aviator.