MARION (WSIL) -- After being delayed for more than a year, veterans boarded Flight 7 of the Veterans Honor Flight of Southern Illinois and headed to Washington D.C.
In the early morning hours of Tuesday, September 28, 87 of our region's honored veterans and their guardians took off from , for Reagan National Airport in Washington, D.C. They will spend the day touring monuments built in their honor.
Flight 7 was planned for May 5, 2020, but had to be postponed several times due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. All veterans who were originally selected to fly on the May 5 flight were given the option to fly now or at a later time.
In addition, all veterans, guardians, and staff had to get fully vaccinated. For those who received a two-dose vaccine, the second dose must have been received at least 14 days prior to the flight. For those who received the Johnson and Johnson vaccine, it had to be administered at least 28 days prior to flying.
On Tuesday, September 28 at 5 p.m., a is planned to welcome back our heroes. Event organizers have been working most of the year on the Welcome Home Celebration and invite everyone to come out and enjoy the festivities.
“Community support for the previous Honor Flight Welcome Home events has been overwhelming!� stated Deborah Hogg, Welcome Home organizer. “There is no better way to celebrate our Veterans and honor them than by giving them a Hero’s welcome home.�
In effort to keep our Veterans, volunteers, and those in attendance safe, the Welcome Home Celebration will be held outside at the front airport entrance. If social distancing cannot be maintained outside, we do ask guest to wear face masks. Those attending are welcome to bring lawn chairs.
Several food trucks are scheduled to participate including M.A's Filipino Cuisine, Easy Street Food Truck, B-Rad Bagels, and Deep South, who have all donated to Honor Flight of Southern Illinois.
Foodservice begins at 5 p.m. and will last until all Veterans have walked the Freedom Path along the front entrance.
Due to limited parking on airport grounds, the planning committee encourages the general public to utilize the free transportation buses from offâ€site parking locations. Rides Mass Transit will provide transportation service from three lots including Sam’s Club, Cornerstone Church, and Community of Faith Church. Buses will run approximately every 20 minutes beginning at 5 p.m.
For more information or to make a donation to the Veterans Honor Flight of Southern Illinois .
