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 LLHF will take our fourth 2019 Honor Flight on
Tuesday, August 20, 2019 departing from Springfield’s Abraham
Lincoln Capital Airport honoring 93 American Veterans. On board LLHF
Mission #57 to Washington DC, will be 5 World War II, 29 Korean War
and 59 Vietnam War Era Veterans - all excited to visit and reflect
with their comrades at their national memorials. These veterans
represent all branches of military service: 19 Air Force, 43 Army, 8
Marine, 22 Navy and 1 Coast Guard.
Ninety-three (93) Veterans and their Guardians will arrive at the
airport Tuesday morning at 4:15 AM, having traveled from the 52
central and southern Illinois cities and communities of Altamont,
Assumption, Atlanta, Auburn, Bloomington, Breese, Bunker Hill, Cerro
Gordo, Champaign, Charleston, Chatham, Collinsville, Cornland,
Cowden, Danville, Decatur, Delavan, Effingham, Elkhart, Elmhurst,
Forsyth, Gilman, Godfrey, Grafton, Hettick, Jacksonville, LaSalle,
Lincoln, Litchfield, Maroa, Mattoon, Meredosia, Mt. Zion,
Murrayville, Newton, Normal, Petersburg, Rantoul, Red Bud, Riverton,
Shelbyville, Sherman, Sparta, Springfield, St. Joseph, Taylorville,
Tilton, Troy, Urbana, Utica, Waverly and Willow Hill.
Our veterans will board luxury motor coaches upon arrival at Ronald
Reagan National Airport in DC. Their most important stops will be at
the World War II, Korean and Vietnam War memorials, as well as
Arlington National Cemetery for the Changing of the Guard ceremony
at the Tomb of the Unknowns. Other stops include the Lincoln
Memorial, the National Air & Space Museum (Chantilly, Virginia), the
US Marine Corps Memorial and the US Air Force Memorial.
This day of honor is provided at absolutely no cost to our Veterans.
They have paid enough; it is our turn to pay them back.
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The return to Springfield airport is planned at 9:30
PM and the general public, along with friends and family, are
encouraged to “pack the ‘port” to Welcome Home these heroes. Come
early. All are encouraged to wear patriotic colors, bring chairs,
balloons, posters, etc. to show appreciation and support to these
Veterans who served and sacrificed so much for our country. Words of
thanks, handshakes and hugs are also encouraged.
Veteran applications continue to be accepted with
flight priority given in the following order: World War II (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). Any
certified terminally ill Veteran should contact LLHF directly.
Veteran or Guardian Applications may be obtained at
www.LandofLincolnHonor Flight.org by clicking on
Applications tab.
LLHF is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization that receives no
government funding. It is only able to honor the Veteran with a trip
to DC due to the generous donations, sponsorships, fundraising
events, merchandise sales and supporting efforts of the many local
businesses, individuals and organizations within our service
area.Land of Lincoln Honor Flight has no paid staff, no office and
no utilities costs. Our on-going administrative cost is
approximately 1% - virtually every dollar raised supports flight
costs for our Veterans.
Since our inception in 2009, Land of Lincoln Honor Flight has been
privileged to serve 4,361 Illinois veterans on 56 flights.
[Joan Bortolon] |
