This page is specific to Mission 12 scheduled for May 7, 2024.
Important Dates:
Guardian Mandatory Training Date: April 6, 2024 (9am – Noon)- Veteran Medical Evaluation Date: April 20, 2024 (9am – 1pm)
- Mail Call Deadline: May 1, 2024
- Pre-Flight Material Pick-Up: May 4, 2024 (9am – Noon)
- Flight Day: May 7, 2024 (4:45am – 8:30pm)
Veteran Notification
We mail notices to Veterans and email notices to guardians. Veteran packets were mailed January 26, 2024. Please verify that your veteran has received their packet. If they have not received it by February 16, please email hope@veteranshonorflight.org
Guardian Fee
All guardians must pay the guardian fee of $600 to travel with Veterans Honor Flight. This payment is due at guardian training on April 6. Payment may be made by check made out to “Veterans Honor Flight.” Payments by credit card are subject to a $15 processing fee. If you do not end up flying, your fee will be refunded to you.
Guardian Fee Assistance
The guardian fee covers part of the cost of your travel on Honor Flight. Because Honor Flight is specifically designed to be free to our veterans, we do not allow a veteran to cover the guardian fee for his/her guardian under any circumstances.
If you are unable to pay your guardian fee, we suggest asking local organizations to sponsor you. Organizations such as the Elks, VFW, American Legion, etc are often eager to help out. Area small businesses may also be interested in sponsoring your guardian fee. If you will need funding assistance, please email hope@
If you are unable to secure sponsorship as noted above, a number of small businesses across Southern Illinois have made us aware they are willing to sponsor guardians who cannot pay the fee. If you would like us to assist you with a sponsorship, please email Hope at hope@veteranshonorflight.org with your request. Include the organizations you have asked in your email. While we cannot guarantee assistance, we will make our best efforts to ensure everyone who has been selected to fly gets to go.
Guardian Training
All guardians on the flight MUST attend guardian training for Flight 12, even if you have previously participated in guardian training.
Guardian Training is Saturday, April 6 from 9am until Noon at Veterans Airport of Southern Illinois, 10400 Terminal Drive, Marion. Training is held in the Charter Lounge in the main terminal, just to the right of the Contour Airlines’ ticket counter.
Previous guardian training does NOT exclude you from mandatory attendance.
Training will cover timing for the trip, what to bring, what to expect, and more. Everyone is encouraged to bring a notebook with them.
Approval
All guardians are subject to approval by the Board of Directors. This approval will be made after guardian training.
Medical Evaluations
Medical Evaluations are used to determine any medical assistance required by each veteran. This is not a decision point for the veteran’s flight status. We have never denied a veteran travel due to any medical condition. It is our intention to take every veteran, regardless of any medical needs.
Material Pick-Up
Both Veterans and Guardians will pick-up materials (such as shirts, hats, and jackets) on Saturday, May 4 between 9:00am and Noon at Veterans Airport. This is a drive-thru, just pull up in front and we will deliver your bags to you.
If you are unable to make this drive-thru, we can deliver your bags to the Drury Inn, Comfort Inn, or Hampton Inn in Marion. Please fill out the Alternative Pick-Up Request to let us know where to take materials.
Standby Information
Standby guardians are required to complete training.
Standby veterans and guardians should NOT attend the drive thru on May 4 unless moved to confirmed status.
Vietnam Veterans Memorial
Documents
Mission 12 Guardian Acknowledgement Form
Veteran Documents for Mission 12
All of these documents will be mailed or given to each Veteran, copies are provided for your reference.
Medical Eval & Pre-Flight Drive Thru
