Land of Lincoln Honor Flight scheduled for September 16

[September 09, 2014]  The Land of Lincoln Honor Flight (LLHF) of Springfield, Illinois, will again take to the air on Tuesday, September 16th, for their 5th flight of the 2014 flying season. Now serving central and southern Illinois, this Flight #29 on a chartered 737 jet will have 84 Veterans aboard from the US Air Force, Army, Marines and Navy service branches, as well as one from the World War II Merchant Marines.

On this no-cost, day long trip to Washington, DC, to visit and reflect at their national memorials, the Veterans will be accompanied by 74 volunteer Guardian escorts who pay their own way and are responsible for the comfort, logistics, mobility and safety of their Veteran(s) for the day.

Departing Springfield around 6:15 AM, they will land at Ronald Reagan National Airport in DC, then will be transported for the day on three tour buses, called Red, White and Blue. The itinerary includes stops at the national World War II Memorial, Korean Memorial, Vietnam Memorial, National Air & Space Museum (Chantilly, Virginia), Air Force and Marine Corps Memorials, Pentagon drive-by and concludes at Arlington National Cemetery, 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 26 World War II, 44 Korean War era and 14 Vietnam War era Veterans on this flight come from the Illinois cities of Alton, Arthur, Bath, Beecher City, Belleville, Brighton, Champaign, Charleston, Cowden, Crest Hill, Danville, Decatur, East Alton, Effingham, Fairbury, Findlay, Granite City, Greenup, Groveland, Havana, Hopedale, Indianola, Ingraham, Lincoln, Lovington, Maroa, Mason, Mattoon, Mendota, Mt Vernon, New Berlin, Newman, Newton, Normal, Oakley, Pana, Pekin, Petersburg, Philo, Piasa, Piper City, Robinson, Rockbridge, Salem, Shobonier, Springfield, Staunton, Taylorville, Tilton, Troy, Urbana, Vandalia, Waverly and Windsor, as well as traveling from Sarasota Florida and Schererville Indiana.

The 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.

Land of Lincoln Honor Flight also announces that its October 28th final flight for 2014 is filled. However, Veteran applications continue to be accepted for the 2015 flight season. Veterans are flown in the order their application is received, with priority given in the following order:
World War II ~ a person enlisted by 12/31/1946
Korean War Era ~ 01/01/1947 to 12/31/1957
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 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.

[Text received; JOHN DUST, LAND OF LINCOLN HONOR FLIGHT]