Flights Announced For 2015 flying
season by Land of Lincoln Honor Flight
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[January 26, 2015]
Open
to veterans, guardian escorts and the public, Land of Lincoln Honor
Flight (LLHF) of Springfield, Illinois, held their annual meeting on
Saturday, January 17th, to discuss their upcoming year. Besides the
traditional Call to Order, Posting of Colors, singing the National
Anthem and introduction of the Executive Board of LLHF, a full
review of the previous season was presented by the LLHF board
president, Joan Bortolon, recapping the six flights held and the 498
veterans served in 2014.
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Since the inaugural trip in May 2009, this brought the total of
the 30 flights to 2,266 veterans served, consisting of 1,307 World
War II, 833 Korean War era and 125 Vietnam War era veterans.
Bortolon also cited the other major events and fundraisers that LLHF
participated in during the year, as well as reviewing the blending
of the Central Illinois Honor Flight hub’s territory and remaining
wait list into Land of Lincoln Honor Flight during the summer.
Moving to the upcoming 2015 season, flights for Tuesday, April 7th,
May 12th and June 16th were announced. Flights are also planned for
September and October but dates have not been established. The
current wait list of LLHF was given as 24 World War II veterans, 226
Korean era and 375 Vietnam era, for a total of 625 as of the annual
meeting. On the April flight there are currently 13 World War II, 68
Korean War era and 1 Vietnam veteran scheduled for the trip,
although that could change due to cancellation(s) and substitutions.
All WW2 veterans have been offered a trip on the April or May
flights, and all Korean era veterans currently on the list will be
offered a trip by the June flight. The May and June flights are
being called and filled. Along with the flights, Guardian Training
for the escorts on the flights was announced. The first sessions of
the year will be held in January, February and March. Guardians on
the April or May flights have been notified of the date, time and
place of the training they need to attend.
Veteran applications continue to be accepted and LLHF is asking all
to help find eligible veterans, especially WWII and Korean era. For
those more elderly ones, remaining time is truly running out.
Veterans are offered a flight in the order their application is
received, with priority given in the following sequence: World War
II ~ a person enlisted by 12/31/1946; Korean War Era ~ 01/01/1947 to
12/31/1957; and, Vietnam War Era ~ 01/01/1958 to 05/07/1975.
(Information for obtaining an application is included at the end of
this article).
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The annual meeting continued with recognition and a salute to
all the “partners” who assist in making LLHF and their flights
successful, both from financial assistance and in honoring the
veterans served with “in kind” contributions. It was followed by
a 20-minute video that capsulized the memorable moments from the
past six years of the hub, from conception through the last
flights of 2014. The meeting then concluded with drawings for
raffle and door prizes, and a great “thank you” for all those
who attended and assisted.
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 LandofLincoln
HonorFlight.org or contact John Dust, marketing/media
director, at HonorFlight
Guy@aol.com or cell 309-339-0227.
[John dust, Land of Lincoln Honor
Flight]
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