By Noah Cooperstein
With a strong military presence in his family, Barrie Finnegan has been able to turn an
aspiration into a promising and rewarding career.
Finnegan, having both parents serving during WWII, is very knowledgeable of what had
happened during this impactful period of history.
“My mother, Laverne, served in the Canadian Army and my father, Frank, served Army
Air Corp, so military blood was all around me,” Finnegan said.
As a boy from Keeseville, New York, growing up on baseball, music and motorcycles,
Finnegan never expected he would wind up working to help those who helped our country.
“In 2013, I attended my first North Country Honor Flight send off, and I was
immediately hooked,” he said. “All I could picture were my parents walking off the plane, and
that drove me to make sure everyone would be able to get that opportunity.”
Finnegan began working for North Country Honor Flight, a nonprofit organization with
the mission of flying World War II veterans to their memorial in Washington, D.C., including
veterans from other conflicts, shortly after the send off that he had attended.
Since he began to work for Honor Flight, Finnegan has been driven and focused on every
task he has been presented with.
Recently, Finnegan has been named the director of Honor Flight, previously holding the
position of executive director of operations. Being named director, Finnegan seeks to bring more
awareness and understanding of Honor Flight.
“The biggest focus is getting the word out there about the organization.” Finnegan said
who also noted he believes that Honor Flight is the best kept secret in Plattsburgh.
As of recent, North Country Honor Flight is working with SUNY Plattsburgh’s Public
Relations Campaign Class. Professor Colleen Lemza discovered Finnegan and Honor Flight
when looking for potential clients for Cardinal PR, a student run Public Relations firm.
“I thought it was a great cause. My grandfather was in World War II, so it also hit very
close to home,” Lemza said.
Lemza and her campaign class are working closely with Honor Flight, aiming to achieve
their two major goals of finding fourteen veterans that have not yet participated with Honor
Flight and raising twelve thousand dollars.
“Working with Honor Flight has opened my eyes,” Marco DiGirolomo, one of the two
student account executives of the Public Relation Campaign class, said. “It has broadened my
understanding on what World War II veterans have done for myself, as well as what they have
done for this country.”
Since being associated with Honor Flight for only a short period of time, Finnegan has
experienced both impact to himself as well as the organization.
One of the most rewarding moments since his involvement with this organization was an
interaction with one of the veterans that participated on an Honor Flight.
Finnegan said one North Country veteran told him going on Honor Flight changed his life
and it will be a lifelong memory.
Finnegan has also created strong connections with many he has met, one of these
veterans being Ross Bouyea, who served in the Army from 1943 to 1945.
When Bouyea discovered Honor Flight, he was immediately drawn to the overall mission
of the organization.
Bouyea participated on the Honor Flight that took place on June 8, 2013. This was the
second sendoff North Country Honor Flight constructed, the first one taking place in April of the
same year. However, this was the first flight to leave from Plattsburgh, with the first initial flight
leaving from Albany.
Over the period of time that they have known each other, Finnegan and Bouyea have
built a strong bound.
“Barrie has done a lot for me since we have met,” Bouyea said. “I am very grateful for all
that he has done for me and the other veterans.”
Both agree Honor Flight has created a way of togetherness for all who have participated.
Finnegan continues to spread the word out about Honor Flight and everything that it has
done for all participating veterans.
“Finding the veterans and getting them on a plane is extremely rewarding,” Finnegan
said. “It is confirmation that you are doing something good. You have to take care of one
another.”
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