Local Sports Calendar

Having taken a summer recess after their earlier three flights, Land of Lincoln Honor Flight (LLHF) of Springfield will embark on the first of their three fall flights on Tuesday, August 25. On board this flight will be eighty-two Veterans representing the US Air Force, Army, Marines and Navy, with 10 from World War II, 50 from the Korean era and 22 who served during the Vietnam War era. Along with their Guardian escorts, they will be flying to Washington, DC, aboard a Sun Country 737 charter jetliner on a day trip to visit and reflect at their Memorials in the country's capital. Once the airplane lands at Ronald Reagan National Airport in DC, the Veterans and Guardians will board their three coach buses, designated Red, White and Blue for the day.

Upon leaving the airport, the senior servicemen and their escorts will cross the Potomac River to their first stop at the National World War II Memorial, getting a quick glance of the south lawn of the White House while in transit. After visiting the Memorial, they will travel to the opposite end of the Reflecting Pool for the Korean and Vietnam War Memorials as well as the Lincoln Memorial located between them. Later they will also tour the National Air and Space Museum in Chantilly, Virginia, and then return to the Washington district for stops at the Air Force and Marine Corps Memorials. The day long tour will conclude with the viewing of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldiers and Changing of the Guard at the Arlington National Cemetery. During the day they will also be able to view the Washington Monument, Jefferson Memorial, the Pentagon and other sites from the bus before departing back to Springfield.

The Honor Flight will return to Abraham Lincoln Capital Airport that same evening, arriving around 9:30 PM. Family, friends and the general public are encouraged to come to the airport to welcome these Veterans who come from two out-of-state towns and 53 Illinois communities, consisting of Altamont, Argenta, Arthur, Ashkum, Atlanta, Auburn, Belle Rive, Bethalto, Carlinville, Chesterfield, Creal Springs, Danville, Decatur, Edwardsville, Effingham, Forsyth, Gibson City, Girard, Granite City, Greenfield, Greenview, Havana, Ipava, Irving, Jacksonville, Kempton, Kilbourne, Lawrenceville, Lewistown, Lincoln, Litchfield, Macomb, Macon, Marine, Mechanicsburg, Metamora, Mt. Pulaski, New Berlin, Pleasant Plains, Rankin, Rantoul, Rochester, Rushville, Savoy, Seymour, Shelbyville, Springfield, Staunton, Taylorville, Waterloo, Wheeler, Williamsville and Wilsonville. It is suggested to arrive at the airport by 8:30 or so and wearing red, white and blue to show your patriotic spirit is encouraged. Balloons, small flags, posters, signs, handshakes, hugs and kisses are also allowed to welcome these heroes home.

Land of Lincoln Honor Flight provides a flight to Veterans of World War II, Korean and Vietnam War eras. A sign-up application may be obtained at the official web site at www.LandofLincolnHonorFlight.org or contact volunteer John Dust at 309-339-0227 or HonorFlightGuy@aol.com. LLHF is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization that receives no federal, state or county funding. It is only able to honor the Veterans on these flights to DC due to the generous donations, sponsorships, fundraising events, merchandise sales and efforts of the many local businesses, individuals and organizations within their service area. Please visit the web site to make a donation or obtain more information on the Honor Flight mission. Also consider "liking" LLHF on Facebook.