Public invited to Land of Lincoln Honor Flight 'welcome home' ceremony Sept. 4

[August 25, 2012]  SPRINGFIELD -- Donations and efforts of many individuals, organizations and businesses will allow Land of Lincoln Honor Flight to take 20 more World War II veterans and 74 more Korean veterans to Washington, D.C., on Sept. 4 to see the World War II Memorial, Korean Memorial, Arlington Cemetery, National Air and Space Museum, and other memorials. In addition, 67 guardians who are responsible for the veterans’ comfort and safety will be on this 17th Land of Lincoln Honor Flight, which is the fourth flight this year.

The public is invited to a "welcome home" ceremony for these WWII and Korean era veterans when the plane arrives back at Abraham Lincoln Capital Airport in Springfield at 9:30 p.m. on Sept. 4. Wear red, white and blue to show your appreciation.

Veterans on this flight come from the Illinois towns of Alton, Athens, Bartonville, Beardstown, Benson, Bloomington, Bluffs, Brighton, Canton, Chatham, Clinton, Cottage Hills, Cuba, Decatur, East Alton, East Peoria, Edwardsville, Ellery, Emden, Eureka, Flanagan, Forsyth, Gillespie, Godfrey, Hillsboro, Jacksonville, Jerseyville, Kane, LeRoy, Lincoln, Mason City, Meredosia, Minier, Minonk, Morton, Mount Olive, Pawnee, Peoria, Pontiac, Raymond, Roanoke, Rochester, Sherman, Shipman, Springfield, Thayer, Virden, West Frankfort, Wood River and one veteran from Pocatello, Idaho.

Applications are still being accepted for the following, but WWII veterans will be served first:

• Veterans who enlisted by Dec. 31, 1946 (WWII -- 127 currently on the list)

• Veterans who served between Jan. 1, 1947, and Dec. 31, 1957 (Korean era -- 321 currently on the list)

• Veterans who served between Jan. 1, 1958, and May 7, 1975 (67 currently on the list)

The last flight for this year is scheduled for Oct. 16 and will include mostly WWII veterans. Flights will resume in the spring.

Land of Lincoln Honor Flight will be the official charity for the Route 66 Road Festival in downtown Springfield Sept. 21-23. Land of Lincoln Honor Flight will have an information booth at the event with applications and fundraising items.

The Land of Lincoln Honor Flight board welcomes the chance to speak to organizations, businesses, churches, conventions or other groups about the Honor Flight 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, visit landoflincolnhonorflight.org or contact Ray Wiedle: home phone [phone], cell 217-622-1473, email [e-mail].

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