Upcoming honor flight taking 94 Central IL vets to Washington

Bradley Zimmerman
·2 min read

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WCIA) — More than 90 veterans from across Central Illinois are heading to Washington D.C. this week courtesy of Land of Lincoln Honor Flight.

The organization said its 70th flight on Tuesday will kick off their 16th year of operation. The flight will take 79 Vietnam era veterans and 15 Korean era veterans, and their guardians, to Washington from Abraham Lincoln Capitol Airport on a chartered flight. They’ll visit landmarks including the Korean and Vietnam Veterans memorials, Arlington National Cemetery, the Lincoln Memorial, the Air and Space Museum, the U.S. Marine Corps Memorial and the U.S. Air Force Memorial.

The trip will be funded by donations from the public, with no cost coming from the veterans.

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“We are excited to kick off our 16th year of operation by serving this distinguished group of American heroes,” said Joan Bortolon, President of Land of Lincoln Honor Flight.

The veterans and their families will leave Springfield at 4 a.m. on Tuesday and return the same day at 9:30 p.m. When they come home, friends, family, Honor Flight alumni and the public as a whole is invited to pack the airport to welcome them back.

“The welcome home at the airport is very special to our veterans” Bortolon said. “It is the experience our veterans earned and deserve but never received.”

Greeters are advised to arrive early. Parking will be free and volunteers will be in the parking to assist them. A shuttle will be available to take greeters directly to their airport terminal door.

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Bortolon added that additional honor flights are scheduled for Aug. 27 and Oct. 15. She encouraged any World War II, Korea or Vietnam era veteran and their guardian to apply for a flight, with priority being given to seriously impaired or terminally ill veterans.

“This is your time to be honored,” she said.

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