MARION, Ill. (WSIL) -- The Veterans Honor Flight of Southern Illinois invites the community to a special Welcome Home ceremony on Tuesday, May 6, at Veterans Airport of Southern Illinois. The event celebrates veterans returning from their day in Washington, D.C.
Deborah Hogg, a Welcome Home organizer, emphasized the importance of community involvement.
“The community support for the previous Honor Flight Welcome Home events has been overwhelming!� stated Hogg, Welcome Home organizer. “There is no better way to celebrate our Veterans and honor them then by giving them a Hero’s Welcome Home.�
Attendees are encouraged to bring lawn chairs and arrive by 5 p.m. The event will feature food trucks, a kid zone, and entertainment. "It is really a festival atmosphere all evening," Hogg said.
Local performers Cody Galloway and Dave Simmons will entertain the crowd. The ceremony begins at 8:45 p.m., with Emcee Steve Falat from River Radio and Matt Throgmorton from Byassee Music and Sound who will be leading the National Anthem.
Limited parking is available, so organizers suggest using free shuttle services from Sam's Club and Cornerstone Church in Marion. Buses will run every 20 minutes starting at 5 p.m.
More than 350 volunteers will be present, easily identified by bright orange lanyards. "We want the Veterans to witness a sea of red, white, and blue when they depart the plane," Hogg said.
Veterans Honor Flight of Southern Illinois covers all expenses for the trip and is run entirely by volunteers. For more information, visit .
