Land of Lincoln Honor Flight plans May 21 trip

[May 14, 2013]  SPRINGFIELD -- Land of Lincoln Honor Flight will honor 26 more World War II veterans and 61 more Korean veterans with a one-day trip to Washington, D.C., on May 21 to see the World War II Memorial, Korean Memorial, Vietnam Memorial, Arlington Cemetery, National Air and Space Museum, and other memorials. Seventy-four guardians who are responsible for the veterans' comfort and safety will also be on this 21st Land of Lincoln Honor Flight.

Donations and efforts of many individuals, organizations and businesses have allowed Land of Lincoln Honor Flight to honor the veterans. This will be the third flight for 2013.

The public is invited to a "welcome home" ceremony for these WWII and Korean era veterans when the plane arrives back at Abraham Lincoln Capital Airport in Springfield at 9:30 p.m. on May 21. Wear red, white and blue to show your appreciation.

Veterans on this flight come from the Illinois towns of Alton, Ashland, Bartonville, Beason, Bloomington, Carlinville, Chatham, Cuba, Delavan, East Alton, East Peoria, Elgin, Elkhart, Glasford, Godfrey, Hamilton, Havana, Hillsboro, Jacksonville, Lewistown, Lincoln, Marquette Heights, Minonk, Morrisonville, Morton, Mount Pulaski, Nokomis, Normal, North Pekin, Pawnee, Pekin, Peoria, Pleasant Plains, Roanoke, Rochester, Roxana, Ruma, Springfield, Taylorville, Tremont, Trivoli, Waverly, Winchester and Wood River and from Fort Madison in Iowa.

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

• Veterans who enlisted by Dec. 31, 1946 (WWII -- 71 currently on the list)

• Veterans who served Jan. 1, 1947, through Dec. 31, 1957 (Korean era -- 299 currently on the list)

• Veterans who served Jan. 1, 1958, through May 7, 1975 (157 currently on the list)

The June 18 flight is already full. Additional 2013 flights will take place Sept. 10 and Oct. 22.

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

For more information about how individuals and groups can help the mission, how to become a member, how to obtain applications, and to learn more about Land of Lincoln Honor Flight, go to http://landoflincolnhonorflight.org/ or contact Ray Wiedle, chairman: home phone [phone], cellphone 217-622-1473 or email [e-mail].