The Veterans Honor Flight Board of Directors was informed Thursday that The Honor Flight Network (HFN), the national organization which coordinates Honor Flight hubs, extended the ban on Honor Flights through June 30, 2020 due to the ongoing COVID-19 public health crisis. Currently, Maryland’s stay at home order is “indefinite” in duration and Virginia’s stay home order runs through at least June 10. Also, Arlington National Cemetery remains closed to the public and there is no date certain upon which Arlington National Cemetery will reopen to the public and/or resume public viewing of the changing of the guard. Because of this mandatory suspension, Veterans Honor Flight of Southern Illinois will not be able to fly in June as we had hoped. As a result of this, all Spring flights ha [...Read more]

The Board of Directors of Veterans Honor Flight of Southern Illinois has voted to delay the two flights planned for the Spring of 2020 until further notice. The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic poses a threat to the veterans whom these flights serve. The Honor Flight Network (HFN), the national organization which governs all Honor Flight hubs has mandated no hub fly to Washington D.C. prior to June 1, 2020. Additionally, HFN has enacted a ban on all Honor Flight meetings, gatherings, and fundraisers through May 31, 2020. This prevents Veterans Honor Flight from holding guardian training or veteran medical evaluations prior to the previously scheduled June 9 flight date. In order to preserve the Honor Flight experience and to provide the necessary safety to our veterans, the June 9 flight [...Read more]

Veterans Honor Flight of Southern Illinois is actively monitoring the current COVID-19, commonly known as “coronavirus,” situation. The Board of Directors is in constant communication with The Honor Flight Network, our national office, regarding the situation and how it may affect Honor Flight activities. The US Centers for Disease Control has issued guidance advising elderly Americans to avoid non-essential travel due to the risk of complication from a COVID-19 infection. Given the apparent ease of distribution of the virus, travel places individuals in increased risk of exposure to those already infected. On March 11, the Honor Flight Network issued a ban on Honor Flight hubs traveling to Washington D.C. through April 30, 2020 due to the COVID-19 threat. Honor Flight hubs are r [...Read more]