For the first time since retired Providence Fire Chief George Farrell founded the Rhode Island Honor Flight in 2012, a three-star general made the trip to the nation’s capitol, but the general wasn’t in charge.

In fact, nothing distinguished the rank of retired General Reginald Centracchio from the other 57 veterans on flight High Voltage that was given a patriotic send off early Sunday morning from Rhode Island TF Green International Airport. Centracchio, who served as adjutant general to the governor and commander of the Rhode Island National Guard, wore an honor flight T-shirt as did the rest of the veterans. And Centracchio, like the others, had a guardian who, as it turned out, is also a high profile Rhode Island individual, Ernest Almonte, director of the Rhode Island League of Cities and Towns.

It’s no mistake that neither Centracchio nor Almonte had the spotlight shown on them. That’s the way Farrell runs honor flights.

“We did not have any special recognition on the flight. We don’t normally single anyone out based on rank or service medals. We think this is a great day to celebrate all of the veterans’ services and hope that this day is simply one of the best days of their lives,” he said in a Monday email.

Centracchio preferred it that way too, although Almonte said when the general told him which seat to take on the bus or airplane he followed orders.

Centracchio called the flight that returned to Rhode Island that night one of “the most enlightening experiences” of his career. He was impressed by the planning, leadership and execution that went into the flight. Yet, it was the faces of the veterans that left an indelible impression of the day and its activities. He watched as Vietnam War veterans looked over the names of 58,000 lost in that war, saw them take in the magnitude of the WWII memorial and watched the changing of the guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Solider at Arlington National Cemetery. He said he felt “empathy seeing the emotions in their faces.”

Centracchio said he ”felt honored” to be in the group, adding that he felt somewhat out of place and wanted to help. He did do a bit of that, “just where I could.”

“Being a recipient was hard for me. I didn’t want to be in the limelight,” he said.

When the three buses of Flight High Voltage arrived at the WWII memorial it looked like they could have used a three-star general. Vehicle access to the memorial and its parking lots was blocked. The buses pulled to the side of the road and Farrell hopped out to see what the problem was. The National Park Service had been advised of the flight and its arrival time. There had been no notice of an incident closing access to the memorial.

Farrell was greeted by a uniformed officer. She informed him the memorial was closed to tours. Farrell said he appreciated her orders, however, he had three buses filled with veterans from Rhode Island who may never get to visit the memorial if they didn’t do it now. What would he tell them?

After a few more cordial exchanges, the officer instructed the buses to circle around and she would move some barriers. Did she learn one of those veterans was a 3-star general? We don’t know.

It wasn’t the last of the snags.

Having visited the Arlington National Cemetery during 30 previous Honor Flights, Farrell sensed something was out of place when they pulled up Sunday. There were a lot of vehicles and security personnel. He thought there could be another unannounced change in plans. Farrell has connections and he knew who to call, Colleen Creighton, a Rhode Islander now living in the DC area. Creighton volunteers at the cemetery and meets up with the Rhode Island Honor Flights.

Creighton inquired why there were so many military dignitaries including a number of generals. It turned out that the United States Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Charles Q. Brown Jr. was also at the cemetery as part of part of a gathering to Gold Star Mothers.

Creighton asked the security detail if General Brown might greet the Rhode Island veterans.

“He spoke briefly to everyone and then took the time to shake hands and speak directly to Mr. Aniello DiMeglio (97 yr. old WWII Navy) and Mr. Antiono F. De Aguiar Jr. (94, US Air Force, Korea), also Mr. Daniel Harley, US Navy and President of IBEW Local 42 and Mr. Ian McQuade, US Navy IBEW Local 42 before all four of them went to the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier to participate in a Wreath Laying Ceremony,” Farrell reported on Monday.

Farrell believes Centracchio was impressed by all the people he met on the flight and despite efforts not to put the spotlight on his rank, Farrell couldn’t recall any members of Honor Flight High Voltage calling him “Reggie.” It was always “general.”

Almonte should remember that.

As the Reggie’s guardian, Almonte sought to have him use a wheelchair to cover the open spaces between memorials. He refused.

General or not, there are some things Centracchio won’t do.