Land of Lincoln Honor Flight 'welcome home' party June 19 in Springfield

[June 12, 2012]  SPRINGFIELD -- Donations and efforts of many individuals, organizations and businesses have allowed Land of Lincoln Honor Flight to take 25 more World War II veterans and 65 more Korean veterans to Washington, D.C., on June 19 to see the World War II Memorial, Korean Memorial, Arlington Cemetery, National Air and Space Museum, and other memorials. In addition, 72 guardians who are responsible for the veterans' comfort and safety will be on the 16th Land of Lincoln Honor Flight. It is the third flight for 2012.

The public is invited to a "welcome home" ceremony for these WWII and Korean era veterans when the plane arrives back at the Abraham Lincoln Capital Airport, Springfield, at 9:30 p.m. on June 19. Wear red, white and blue to show your appreciation.

Veterans on this flight come from the Illinois towns of Alton, Arenzville, Auburn, Bloomington, Canton, Chatham, Decatur, Elkhart, Emden, Forsyth, Greenview, Jacksonville, Lincoln, Litchfield, McLean, Morton, Mount Morris, Nokomis, Pawnee, Pekin, Peoria, Petersburg, Raymond, Roanoke, Roseville, Secor, Springfield, Streator, Virden, Waterloo, Witt and one veteran from Midland, Texas.

For future flights, applications from veterans are still being accepted as follows, but WWII veterans will be served first:

• Veterans who enlisted by Dec. 31, 1946 (WWII -- 85 currently on the list)

• Veterans who served Jan. 1, 1947, through Dec. 31, 1957 (Korean era -- 325 currently on the list

• Veterans who served Jan. 1, 1958, through May 7, 1975 (40 currently on the list)

Flights are also scheduled for Sept. 4 (full) and Oct. 16, which will contain any remaining WWII veterans with applications in by July 15. Empty seats will be filled with Korean era veterans on the waiting list.

The Land of Lincoln Honor Flight board welcomes the chance to speak to organizations, businesses, churches, conventions or other groups about their mission, future flights, guardian duties, fundraising and donations.

For more information about this flight, how individuals and groups can help the mission, how to obtain applications, how to become a member, and to learn more about Land of Lincoln Honor Flight, go to www.landoflincolnhonorflight.org or contact Ray Wiedle: home, 314 427 2317; cell, 217-622-1473; email, [e-mail].

[Text from file received from Land of Lincoln Honor Flight]