SPRINGFIELD - Land of Lincoln Honor Flight kicks off our 2025 flying season with Mission #73 on April 15, 2025.
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Mission #73 will serve 93 Veterans including 11 Korean Era veterans 82 Vietnam era veterans from 41 Illinois home towns of Alhambra, Aviston, Bartelso, Beckemeyer, Bethalto, Bloomington, Bondville, Breese, Carlinville, Columbia, Decatur, Divernon, Fairview Heights, Germantown. Grant Park, Highland, Hoffman, Jacksonville, Joliet, Lincoln, Marrisa, Mascoutah, Minooka, Morrisonville, Normal, Palmer, Pana, Pekin, Pocahontas, Salem, Shattuc, Shelbyville, Sidney, Springfield, Taylorville, Teutopolis, Trenton, Tuscola, Vandalia, Waverly, Winchester and Xenia. Our April 15th veterans represent all branches of the military.
These Veterans and their Guardians will report April 15, 2025 to the Abraham Lincoln Capitol Airport at 4:00 AM to travel to Washington DC 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. This day of honor is provided at absolutely no cost to our veterans and is completely funded by donations from the general public.
These 93 heroes return to the Springfield airport at 9:30 PM on Tuesday. The general public, friends, family and LLHF alumni veterans are encouraged to pack the airport to welcome home these heroes. 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 and show appreciation for and support of these veterans who sacrificed so much for our country. Parking is free and volunteers will be in the parking area to assist guests to open spaces. A shuttle bus is available to take them directly to the airport terminal door.
“We are excited to kick off 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 seriously impaired or terminally ill WWII, Korean era or Vietnam era veteran will be given flight priority. Veteran and Guardian Applications may be obtained at www.LandofLincolnHonorFlight.org by clicking on “Applications” tab. LLHF also offers a “Flightless Honor Flight” program for those otherwise eligible veterans whose physical condition limits their ability to participate on an actual flight.
LLHF plans to offer four (4) flights in 2025: April 15, June 3, September 9 and October 21.
Land of Lincoln Honor Flight is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization that receives no government funding. Over 5,700 Central Illinois veterans have been served on LLHF’s 70 flights. It is only able to honor veterans due to the generous 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 rental and no utilities costs. Its overall administrative cost is approximately 2% so virtually every dollar raised supports flight costs for veterans.
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