MISSOURI/ILLINOIS — The Great River Honor Flight Board of Directors are pleased to announce both the dates for the 2023 missions as well as exciting news regarding expansion of eligibility for veterans who can apply for a future Honor Flight.
After 62 completed trips and over 2,000 local veterans who have participated in an Honor Flight as of the end of 2022, the mission dates for 2023 are as follows:
#63 – Thursday, April 6 (departure and homecoming) – Hannibal (HLGU)
#64 – Thursday, May 11 (departure and homecoming) – Quincy (JWCC)
#65 – Thursday, June 15 (departure and homecoming) – Center, Missouri (Mark Twain HS)
#66 – Thursday, August 17 (departure and homecoming) – Quincy (JWCC)
#67 – Thursday, September 14 (departure and homecoming) – Hannibal (HLGU)
#68 – Thursday, October 19 (departure and homecoming) – Quincy (JWCC)
Specific details on each flight will be made available as we get closer to each date. “2023 is the 13th year that Honor Flights have been provided to local veterans. We are very excited to begin the planning process for what we believe will be yet another great year to show the appreciation and gratitude there is throughout the Tri States for our nation’s veterans,” stated Carlos Fernandez, Chairman of Great River Honor Flight.
In addition, the Great River Honor Flight Board of Directors are very excited to welcome veterans who have served prior to July 1, 1985 as eligible for future missions. Back in 2010 we began by offering this FREE trip to DC to veterans who served during World War II. Since then, we have expanded eligibility to those who served during Korea, Vietnam and the years between those conflicts. Now we are proud to accept applications for those who also served in any capacity between the years 1975 to 1985 as well.
“This is the appropriate next step to our strategy,” said Doug Reed, Treasurer of the Honor Flight board. He added, “the continued financial support that has been given by individuals, groups and businesses as well as memorials from those who have participated in past flights allows us the opportunity to be able to offer this experience to additional local veterans.”
Great River Honor Flight is increasing efforts in the marketing of these flights thru broadcast, print, internet, social media, as well as contacts with various veterans organizations throughout the region. Our goal is to invite the men and women who served our country to sign up for a future Honor Flight mission. “We encourage all eligible veterans in the area to fill out an application,” Toni Hatton Park, Vice Chair stated. Applications are available by going to www.greatriverhonorflight.com and filling out the forms for both veterans and guardians that can be found on the home page of the website.
Great River Honor Flight was started on Veterans Day 2009 with its first flight scheduled on April 13, 2010.
To date Great River Honor Flight, the Tri-States’ hub of the National Honor Flight program has flown 2,009 local Veterans to Washington D.C.
Great River Honor Flight, a Missouri Nonprofit Corporation established in October of 2009, was created solely to honor America’s veterans that live in our area for all they have sacrificed by providing, free of charge, transportation to Washington D.C. to visit the memorials dedicated to honor their service and sacrifices.
For additional information, contact Carlos Fernandez at csfernandez1951@gmail.com or Great River Honor Flight, PO Box 3723
Quincy, Illinois 62305.