As you know, our travel plans for Honor Flight have been drastically impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic currently worldwide. Based on guidance from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), the Honor Flight Network, as well as federal and state governments, our plans for Honor Flight have changed once again. Our plans to fly this fall have been postponed to Spring 2021. Most importantly, all veterans, and their guardians, selected for Flight 7 remain on the flight. No action is necessary. Likewise, your guardian selection remains unchanged. The Honor Flight Network has imposed a travel ban through December 31, 2020. Based on multiple factors, we agree this is the correct decision to provide the safest and absolute best flight possible for our Veterans. The Board of Directors of Vet [...Read more]

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]

In anticipation of the seventh flight of Veterans Honor Flight of Southern Illinois, veteran selection packets have been mailed. Flight 7 will transport 87 veterans to Washington D.C. on May 5, 2020. In accordance with the policies of Honor Flight, World War II veterans were selected first, followed by those serving between WWII and the Korean War, then Korean War veterans, and so on. At this time, Flight 7 includes veterans born on or before October 1943. Veterans who have applied for Honor Flight with Veterans Honor Flight of Southern Illinois and were not selected for Flight 7 will remain activ [...Read more]

Area Walmart stores continued their support of Veterans Honor Flight of Southern Illinois with a donation of $5,000 today. Walmart is one of many Southern Illinois businesses which support the donation-funded organization. With today’s donation, Walmart has donated $53,000 to Veterans Honor Flight in addition to providing supplies for flights and other events. “Partners like Walmart are what make our mission possible,” said Bryan Questelle, Chairman of the Board of Veterans Honor Flight of Southern Illinois. “They’ve been a great pa [...Read more]

Following the conclusion of Welcome Home celebrations from this fall's 6th flight, the Board of Directors of Veterans Honor Flight of Southern Illinois announced a big surprise for Spring 2020. Since the Inaugural Flight in April 2017, Veterans Honor Flight has been traveling to DC twice per year with one flight in the spring and one in the fall. While this means over 100 veterans travel to Washington DC per year, the group felt more area veterans needed to be served faster. For the first time ever, Veterans Honor Flight will fly twice in one season. Flight 7 is scheduled for Tue [...Read more]

The Welcome Home Celebration for Flight 6 begins at 5:00pm. Veterans are scheduled to arrive home from Washington D.C. at 8:10pm. Food and fun are available for the whole family starting at 5pm!

Parking

Parking at Veterans Airport is extremely limited. Please park in our satellite parking locations:

• Cornerstone Church, Marion (old Walmart building)
• Community of Faith Church

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Veterans Honor Flight of Southern Illinois is proud to announce the 6th mission to Washington D.C. will depart on Tuesday, October 1, 2019 from Veterans Airport in Marion.

Veterans Honor Flight is currently seeking a flight sponsor to help in funding this flight.

Anyone interested in sponsoring should email contact@veteranshonorflight.org.

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Veterans Honor Flight of Southern Illinois announced Flight 5 will depart on Tuesday, May 14, 2019. Flight 5 is made possible by a donation from Ms. Mary Nell Chew.

Veteran Application Deadline: March 22, 2019

Guardian Application Deadline: March 22, 2019

Guardian Mandatory Training Date: April 13, 2019

Veteran Medical Evaluation Date: April 27, 2019

Mail Call Deadline: April 26, 2019

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