SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WAND) - Land of Lincoln Honor Flight prepares for there upcoming Mission #74 on June 3, 2025.
Mission #74 will serve 96 veterans, including 6 from the Korean Era and 90 from the Vietnam Era, representing 66 towns in Illinois.
These towns include Alton, Ashland, Auburn, Beason, Bingham, Bloomington, Blue Mound, Carman, Caseyville, Champaign, Chandlerville, Charleston, Chatham, Cooksville, Cowden, Danville, Decatur, Dieterich, Edinburg, Effingham, Eureka, Fairbury, Forrest, Franklin, Freeport, Germantown, Gibson City, Greenville, Hillsboro, Illiopolis, Indianola, Jacksonville, Jerseyville, Lovington, Mahomet, Mattoon, Monticello, Mount Pulaski, Naperville, Olney, Petersburg, Pontiac, Quincy, Rantoul, Rochester, Rockford, Rossville, South Jacksonville, Sadorus, Secor, Shipman, Shobonier, Springfield, Staunton, Troy, Tuscola, Urbana, Vandalia, Villa Park, Weldon, White Hall, Windsor, Wood River, and Yale, as well as O'Fallon, Missouri.
Veterans and their Guardians will gather on June 3, 2025, at 4:00 AM at Abraham Lincoln Capitol Airport. They will travel to Washington, D.C., aboard a chartered Sun Country 737 aircraft.
The itinerary includes visits to the World War II, Korean War, and Vietnam War Memorials, Arlington National Cemetery's Tomb of the Unknowns, the Lincoln Memorial, the National Air and Space Museum in Chantilly, Virginia, the U.S. Marine Corps Memorial, and the U.S. Air Force Memorial.
This day of honor is offered at no cost to our veterans and is entirely funded by donations from the general public.
These 96 heroes will return to the Springfield airport at 9:30 PM on Tuesday, June 3rd. The general public, friends, family, and LLHF alumni veterans are encouraged to fill the airport to welcome these heroes home.
Joan Bortolon, LLHF President, states: “The welcome home at the airport is the experience our veterans earned and deserve - but never received. For many of these heroes, this is the first time they will experience a sincere and heartfelt welcome home.”
Greeters are encouraged to arrive early to show appreciation for the veterans who sacrificed so much for our country. Parking is free, and volunteers will be present in the parking area to help guests find open spaces.
A shuttle bus is available to transport guests directly to the airport terminal door.
“We are excited to continue the 2025 flying season. We encourage any World War II, Korean Era or Vietnam Era veteran to apply now. This is your time to be honored.” Bortolon states.
Any veterans from World War II, the Korean War, or the Vietnam War who are seriously impaired or terminally ill will be given priority for flight. Applications for veterans and guardians can be obtained at www.LandofLincolnHonorFlight.org by clicking on the “Applications” tab.
Additionally, LLHF provides a “Flightless Honor Flight” program for eligible veterans whose physical conditions prevent them from participating in an actual flight.
LLHF plans to offer two more flights in 2025, scheduled for September 9 and October 21.
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