The North Country Honor Flight Named 2025 Spirit of Ianelli Award Honoree
The Sunrise Rotary Mayor's Cup Regatta & Festival Committee is pleased to announce that the North Country Honor Flight has been selected as the 2025 Spirit of Ianelli Award honoree.
What is the Spirit of Ianelli Award?
The Spirit of Ianelli Award was established in 2010 in honor of the late Mayor John Ianelli, former Mayor of the City of Plattsburgh and co-founder of the Mayor’s Cup Regatta in 1978. This honor is bestowed upon one individual or group of individuals – sailor or landlubber – who exemplifies the same “community does matter” spirit that inspired Mayor Ianelli over 45 years ago, empowering our lake community to thrive, not only on race day, but every day.
The North Country Honor Flight is a 100% volunteer-led non-profit organization dedicated to honoring local veterans by providing them with free trips to visit our nation’s war memorials in Washington, D.C. Flights began in 2013 and to date 61 Honor Flights have taken over 900 veterans to Washington, D.C. These trips offer veterans the opportunity to reflect on their service, bond with fellow service members and receive recognition for their service. Plattsburgh Sunrise Rotary has been a proud supporter of the North Country Honor Flight from the beginning. In addition, several past and current Sunrise Rotarians are veterans and have made the trip to Washington, D.C. along with fellow service members. Sunrise Rotarian found their stories and memories of the day to be extremely powerful and very moving.
Wanda Carroll, President of the Sunrise Rotary Club, will formally present the award to Barrie Finnegan, Executive Director of the North Country Honor Flight, along with other members of the organization, at the Mayor’s Cup Regatta Awards ceremony taking place at the Plattsburgh City Marina on Saturday, July 12, 2025, at 6:00pm. The community is welcome and encouraged to attend the outdoor ceremony and show their support of the North Country Honor Flight volunteers.