Flyover tradition to include vets

By: 
Staff Writer

A Memorial Day tradition in the Genoa area will continue this year but with a twist.
Fred Kusian, of Billman Road, plans to pilot his plane, a Maule 180, over the Memorial Day observance at the Allen Township/Williston Cemetery on May 30 – a tradition started by his father, Byron, a World War II veteran, more than 30 years ago.
Fred took over piloting duties when his father was no longer able to fly and to make the flyover event this year a little more special he decided to have a veteran to join him on the flight.
Through his girlfriend, Danette Core, a nurse practitioner at the Veterans Affairs clinic in Sandusky, Kusian was put in touch with a Genoa resident, Jimmy Wirick, an Army veteran.
Wirick’s wife, Jamie, is also a nurse and works with Core at Bay Park Hospital.
“I asked Danette to find a veteran to fly with me and she did,” Kusian said. “So weather-permitting we will be flying over the service around 11:45 a.m. We’ll be taking off from our home strip on our farm.”
The service at the cemetery starts at 11:30 a.m.
Kusian’s brother, Jim, also a pilot, plans to participate in the flyover and has invited a veteran of the Vietnam conflict, Bob Fahle, to join him. Jim pilots a Maule 235.
The brothers expect to be flying about 200 feet above ground when they are over the cemetery.
Wirick said he was excited to be included in the event.
“When they asked me I said ‘sure,’ “he said. “I’m looking forward to it.”
Wirick served with the 1st Infantry Division based at Fort Riley, Kansas. He deployed to Afghanistan in 2011 as part of Operation Enduring Freedom.
The speaker for the service at the cemetery will be State Rep. D.J. Swearingen.
The Genoa Area High School band will also perform. The cemetery is located on Martin-Williston Road.

Category:

The Press

The Press
1550 Woodville Road
Millbury, OH 43447

(419) 836-2221

Email Us

Facebook Twitter

Ohio News Media Association