Jaffrey sends off Joe Manning for visit to war memorials

Crowds line Route 202 to send off World War II Veteran Joe Manning for an Honor Flight to Washington, D.C. to visit the war memorials. PHOTO BY KATHRYN MANNING

Joe Manning accepts a flag from a resident. PHOTO BY KATHRYN MANNING

Jeanne Duval of Jaffrey holds up a sign in support. PHOTO BY KATHRYN MANNING

Residents send off Joe Manning for his Honor Flight to Washington, D.C. PHOTO BY KATHRYN MANNING—

Residents wave flags as the car taking Joe Manning to his Honor Flight heads to the airport. PHOTO BY KATHRYN MANNING

Published: 09-20-2023 2:29 PM

Jaffrey NH

Saturday afternoon, a large gathering of people from Jaffrey and Rindge lined Route 202 in downtown Jaffrey to wave on 97-year-old Joe Manning on his way to Washington, D.C., to join fellow Veterans from World War II, Korea and Vietnam, along with several younger veterans from the more recent wars.

The trip to the nation's capital was organized by the nonprofit organization Honor Flight, whose mission is to fly veterans from around the country to Washington to visit the war memorials erected in their honor.

With his application to the Honor Flight organization accepted, Manning was ready to meet up with fellow World War II veterans from across the country, but was not expecting the outpouring of recognition and gratitude from the citizens of his hometown.