Land of Lincoln Honor Flight takes to the air October 28th

[October 25, 2014]  Land of Lincoln Honor Flight (LLHF) of Springfield, Illinois, will again take to the air on Tuesday, October 28th, for their sixth and final flight of the 2014 flying season. Serving central and southern Illinois, this Flight #30 charter will have 9 World War II, 66 Korean War era and 6 Vietnam War era Veterans aboard from the US Air Force, Army, Marines and Navy military branches, as well as one from the World War II Merchant Marines, for a total of 2,267 served since the founding of LLHF. On this no-cost, day long trip to Washington, DC, to visit and reflect at their national memorials, all Veterans will be accompanied by a volunteer Guardian escort, who pay their own way and are responsible for the comfort, logistics, mobility and safety of their Veteran(s) for the day.

Departing Springfield shortly after 6 AM, they will land at Ronald Reagan National Airport in DC, then will be transported for the day on three tour buses named Red, White and Blue. The itinerary includes stops at the national World War II, Korean and Vietnam Memorials as well as the National Air & Space Museum (Chantilly, Virginia), Air Force and Marine Corps Memorials, Pentagon drive-by and concludes at Arlington National Cemetery, along with viewing the Tomb of the Unknown Soldiers and Changing of the Guard. During the day they will also have the opportunity to visit the Lincoln Memorial, as well as see the Washington Monument, Jefferson Memorial, DC World War I Memorial, and much more.

The 9 World War II, 66 Korean War era and 6 Vietnam War era Veterans on this flight come from the Illinois towns of Alhambra, Alvin, Belleville, Carterville, Charleston, Chatham, Clinton, Collinsville, Decatur, Dieterich, East Alton, Effingham, Findlay, Forsyth, Gibson City, Gillespie, Golconda, Greenville, Herrin, Ingraham, Lewistown, Lincoln, Mahomet, Mansfield, Maroa, Maryville, McLeansboro, Modesto, Murphysboro, Newton, Nokomis, Normal, Orient, Owaneco, Paris, Pekin, Peoria, Philo, Ramsey, Rankin, Rochelle, Shelbyville, Springfield, St. Elmo, St. Peter, Stonington, Strasburg, Taylorville, Toledo, Tolono, Urbana, Villa Grove, Virden, Waverly, White Heath and Windsor.

The general public is invited and encouraged to show their appreciation for these Veterans by welcoming them home when they return to Abraham Lincoln Capital Airport that evening, arriving at approximately 9:30 PM. It is suggested to be to the airport by 8:30-8:45 and feel free to wear red, white & blue to show your patriotic spirit or bring small American flags, balloons, posters, etc.

Although Land of Lincoln Honor Flight will have completed their final flight for the year with this trip, Veteran applications may be obtained from the LLHF web site and will continue to be accepted for the 2015 flight season. Veterans are flown in the order their application is received by LLHF, with priority given in the following order: World War II (person enlisted by 12/31/1946), then Korean War Era (01/01/1947 to 12/31/1957), followed by the Vietnam War Era (01/01/1958 to 05/07/1975).

Land of Lincoln Honor Flight is a 501(c)3 non-profit, receiving no federal, state or county funding. It is only able to fly Veterans on their Honor Flight through the generous donations, sponsorships, fund raising and efforts of many individuals, businesses and organizations. For more information on the Honor Flight mission, to obtain a Veteran or Guardian application, arrange a speaker to your organization, or make a donation to LLHF, please visit the official web site at LandofLincolnHonorFlight.org or contact John Dust, marketing/media director, at [e-mail]  or cell 309-339-0227.

[Land of Lincoln Honor Flight]