Land of Lincoln Honor Flight 'welcome home' event Tuesday

[March 20, 2013]  SPRINGFIELD -- Donations and efforts of many individuals, organizations and businesses have allowed Land of Lincoln Honor Flight to take 16 more World War II veterans, 68 more Korean veterans and one Vietnam veteran to Washington, D.C., next week to see the World War II Memorial, Korean Memorial, Vietnam Memorial, Arlington Cemetery, National Air and Space Museum, and other memorials. Seventy-seven guardians who are responsible for the veterans' comfort and safety will be on the 19th Land of Lincoln Honor Flight. This is the first flight for 2013.

The public is invited to a "welcome home" ceremony for these WWII, Korean era and Vietnam veterans when the plane arrives back at Abraham Lincoln Capital Airport in Springfield at 9:30 p.m. on Tuesday, March 26. Wear red, white and blue to show your appreciation.

Veterans on this flight come from the Illinois towns of Alton, Auburn, Bartonville, Benson, Brimfield, Bunker Hill, Canton, Carlinville, Carrollton, Chatham, Chillicothe, Clinton, Dawson, Decatur, East Peoria, Elgin, Elmwood, Fairbury, Forrest, Greenview, Groveland, Jacksonville, Latham, Lincoln, Loami, Manchester, Mason City, Medora, Metamora, Morton, Mount Olive, Mount Pulaski, Normal, North Pekin, Odell, Pekin, Peoria, Petersburg, Pontiac, Roanoke, Rochester, Roodhouse, Rushville, San Jose, Saybrook, Sherman, Springfield, Taylorville, Tremont, Virden, Virginia, White Hall, Wood River and Yates City.

Applications from veterans are still being accepted for the following, but WWII veterans will be served first:

• Veterans who enlisted by Dec. 31, 1946 (WWII -- 101 currently on the list)

• Veterans who served Jan. 1, 1947, through Dec. 31, 1957 (Korean era -- 388 currently on the list)

• Veterans who served Jan. 1, 1958, through May 7, 1975 (137 currently on the list)

Flights are also scheduled for April 23 (already full), May 21 (already full) and June 18 (being filled). If funds are available, there will be additional flights in September and October.

The Land of Lincoln Honor Flight board welcomes the chance to speak to organizations, businesses, churches, conventions or others groups about their mission, future flights, guardian duties, fundraising and donations.

For more information about this flight, how individuals and groups can help the mission, how to obtain applications, how to become a member, and to learn more about Land of Lincoln Honor Flight, go to the website, www.landoflincolnhonorflight.org, or contact Ray Wiedle: home, 314-427-2317; cell, 217-622-1473; email, [e-mail].