Honor Bus takes 32 Seneca County veterans to Washington, D.C.

By Sheri Trusty, Seneca County Media Relations Coordinator

When the late Jim Nusser returned from an Honor Bus trip to Washington, D.C., with a group from Ashland County, he was overwhelmed by the experience and became determined to bring the concept to Seneca County. Nusser died before he could make his dream a reality.

Others picked up where he left off, and on Oct. 25, 32 Seneca County military veterans boarded an Honor Bus at the Seneca County Fairgrounds for a free, two-night trip to Washington, D.C., where their itinerary included stops at war memorials, monuments and Arlington National Cemetery.

“When Jim came home from his trip, he was really excited. He came back just bragging about how cool it was to see all the vets and all the monuments,” said Dottie Colbert, one of the trip organizers. “Jim partnered with Denny Nye and Mike Lauterbur to get it going. He got people to back him and raised a little bit of money, but then he got sick and died of cancer.”

As Nusser neared death, Dottie’s husband, Toby Colbert, made him a promise.

“Before Jim passed away, Toby told him he would get it going, and here we are,” Dottie said, as she stood in the fairgrounds surrounded by veterans waiting to board the Honor Bus.

The Colberts were joined by Nye’s daughter, Jenn Pahl, who helped organize the trip and hosted a Dennis Nye Motorcycle Poker Run earlier this year that raised about $8,500 for Honor Bus. Seneca County Honor Bus trips are open to any Seneca County veteran, and they are welcome to bring a companion.

The Oct. 25 trip was the third trip hosted by Seneca County Honor Bus, and another trip is scheduled for early November. Each trip costs about $29,000 and is funded by donations from within and without the county.

“Lots of people we don’t know sent us money,” Dottie said.

Among the veterans who traveled to D.C. on the Oct. 25 Honor Bus was veteran Ralph Weinandy, who will turn 100 in December. Weinandy served in the South Pacific during WWII. Also on the bus were husband and wife, Joe and Anna Ocreto, both military veterans who met while serving in the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks. Joe, a Marine and National Guard veteran, was then working for the Department of Defense, and Anna was an Army MP.

Anna was working primarily in law enforcement on the Hawaiian post and was sent to Fort DeRussy in Waikiki after the attacks.

“After 9/11, they had us come down and secure soft targets. Joe was at the military hotel at Waikiki Beach, and that’s where we met,” Anna said.

Joe spent 20 years in the military and served in both Desert Shield and Desert Storm. The Honor Bus provided his first visit to Washington, D.C.

“This is something we’ve wanted to do,” he said.

Many locals will recognize Anna from WTTF, where her duties include being the station’s Tradio Host. As a young woman, she dreamed of becoming a park ranger but was too young to qualify. Instead, she joined the Army.

“I used the Army as a stopgap, but I’m in radio now, and I love it,” she said.

She learned about Honor Bus when Honor Bus volunteer, Steve Leonard, and Officer of The Sons of the American Legion, Leonard Skonecki, joined Seneca County Commissioner Bill Frankart for an interview about the Honor Bus with WTTF Operations Manager Mike Roca.

“I heard them talk about this on the radio and wanted to do it,” Anna said. “I’ve never been to Washington. This is actually a bucket list thing.”

Commissioner Frankart was among the crowd that gathered at the fairgrounds at 5:30 in the morning to give the veterans a grateful sendoff.

“I was truly humbled to be in the presence of so many great veterans that served our country to maintain our freedoms as they boarded a bus to head to Washington, D.C., some for the first time,” Commissioner Frankart said. “I’m grateful they will have the opportunity to reflect and reconnect to their past service through all the tours that have been scheduled.”

The public is invited to gather at the Seneca County Fairgrounds on Sunday, Oct. 27, to welcome the veterans home. The Honor Bus is scheduled to arrive between 9 and 10 p.m.