Skip to content
Land of Lincoln Honor Flight (LLHF) Mission 67 takes off on Tuesday, June 20, with five Korean-era veterans and 86 Vietnam-era veterans. The veterans will report to Springfield Abraham Lincoln Capitol Airport from 56 Illinois towns of Alton, Argenta, Ashland, Assumption, Athens, Barry, Bethalto, Bunker Hill, Canton, Carlinville, Casey, Champaign, Charleston, Chatham, Clinton, Cowden, Dalton City, Danville, Decatur, Divernon, DuQuoin, Effingham, Fairfield, Farmer City, Fithian, Godfrey, Jacksonville, Jerseyville, Latham, LeRoy, Lincoln, Litchfield, Louisville, Macon, Mahomet, Marseilles, Mascoutah, Mattoon, Mt. Olive, Mt. Zion, New Berlin, Newton, Normal, Oakley, Oreana, Philo, Ramsey, Rushville, Springfield, St. Joseph, Sullivan, Tolono, Urbana, Warrensburg, Watson and Worden.
These 91 veterans and their 88 Guardians arrive at the airport Tuesday at 4 a.m. to travel to Washington, D.C., on a chartered Sun Country 737 aircraft to visit the World War II, Korean and Vietnam War memorials, as well as Arlington National Cemetery Tomb of the Unknowns, the Lincoln Memorial, the National Air & Space Museum in Chantilly, Virginia, the US Marine Corps Memorial, and the US Air Force Memorial.
“Our mission is to show our most senior veterans our gratitude for their service by hosting this day of thanks absolutely free to the veteran. They have paid enough; it is our turn to pay them back,” said LLHF President Joan Bortolon
The veterans return to Springfield airport at 9:30 p.m. on Tuesday. The general public, friends, family and LLHF alumni veterans are encouraged to pack the airport to welcome them home.
“Please come to the airport to give our veterans the welcome home they earned, deserved and never received,” said Bortolon.
Greeters are encouraged to arrive early and show appreciation for and support of the veterans. Parking is free and volunteers will be in the parking area to assist guests to open spaces as well as the shuttle bus that will take them directly to the airport terminal door.
“We encourage any World War II, Korean era or Vietnam era veteran to apply now. The waiting list for future flights has never been shorter. This is your time to be honored.” Bortolon said.
Any seriously impaired or terminally ill veteran will be given flight priority. Veteran and Guardian applications may be obtained at www.LandofLincolnHonorFlight.org by clicking on Applications tab.
Land of Lincoln Honor Flight is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization that receives no government funding. It is only able to honor veterans due to 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 is operated by all volunteers; it has no paid staff, no office and no utilities costs. Its overall administrative cost is approximately 1%, so virtually every dollar raised supports flight costs for veterans.
