Press Releases
WCNY to Honor Michael Haynie, Rear Admiral John Paddock, and Colonel Bill Smullen at Inaugural “Mission: Honor Our Heroes” Event
by
April 7, 2026
WCNY, Central New York’s public communications organization, is proud to host its first annual “Mission: Honor Our Heroes” event, recognizing three distinguished leaders for their service and impact: Michael Haynie, founder and executive director of the Institute for Veterans and Military Families (IVMF) and incoming chancellor of Syracuse University; Rear Admiral John Paddock, co-founder of Honor Flight Syracuse; and Colonel Bill Smullen, former CEO of Clear Path for Veterans. The evening will be emceed by Dan Cummings.
This special event supports WCNY’s continued production and distribution of “Honor Flight Syracuse.” All proceeds directly fund the creation and sharing of these stories, ensuring the voices and experiences of our local veterans reach audiences across the region.
“‘Mission: Honor Our Heroes’ reflects WCNY’s deep commitment to telling the stories of those who have served our country and our community,” said Mitch Gelman, president and CEO of WCNY. “We are honored to recognize these extraordinary individuals while bringing our community together to celebrate their leadership, sacrifice, and lasting impact.”
The event will take place on Thursday, May 28 at 5 p.m. at Madison County Distillery (2412 Route 20, Cazenovia). Guests will enjoy light bites, live entertainment, and a cash bar, while coming together to celebrate the service, leadership, and enduring contributions of local veterans and community leaders.
General Admission tickets include entry to the event, food, and an evening of community in support of WCNY’s “Honor Flight Syracuse” coverage. A discounted Veteran Ticket is available exclusively for veterans.
For more information or to purchase tickets, please visit wcny.org/honorourheroes.
For media inquiries, please contact Lauren Easton at lauren.easton@wcny.org or (585) 797-4314.
About WCNY
WCNY was founded in 1965 as The Educational Television Council of Central New York. Today, it is a public communications organization that produces content across multiple platforms, including television and radio, dynamic web and targeted email content, the WCNY CONNECT magazine, and social media. Through its media platforms, in-person and virtual events, WCNY brings local coverage and educational services to Central New Yorkers. WCNY operates four digital, pledge-free broadcast channels and three radio stations. Classic FM is one of the few radio stations in the world dedicated to locally programmed classical music, and Pulso Central is Central New York’s first Spanish-language radio station.
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