Early in the morning of Thursday, May 4, 2017, Robert Lee Atherton, 81 of Morrison, IL, became part of the 39th Honor Flight of the Quad-Cities headed to Washington, D. C. He was the only Morrison veteran to participate from the American Legion. Atherton served four years in the United States Air Force during the Korean Conflict and 12 years in the Air Force National Guard. So did his identical twin, Richard Leroy Atherton.
It was a bittersweet moment. Richard had planned to accompany Bob on this journey. Unfortunately, Richard passed away three weeks ago, on Thursday, April 13. Bob carried a photograph of his brother, so they can symbolically share this trip.
In contrast, Atherton had the pleasure to be accompanied by his son, Robert Craig Atherton, 58 of Des Plaines, IL. The younger Bob, a First Responder, will be a Guardian for his father and a Freeport, IL, veteran on the flight.
According to Hub Director Steve Garrington, the elder Atherton joined 92 other veterans including those from the Korean Era and Vietnam War. About 60 Guardians will escort them to view military memorials dedicated to their service and sacrifice. They will return to the Quad-City International Airport about 10:00 p.m., to the Welcome Home event inside the airport. The public is invited. Free parking will be provided.
Television station KLJB has a reporter on the flight. Watch the Welcome Home ceremony on channel 7 or 707HD.
Quad-Cities Honor Flights began in 2008; the 40th flight will be on Thursday, June 8, the second of four flights this year. Garrington said, “There is a need for more Guardians to volunteer to escort the veterans. We like to have a couple hundred [on a waiting list], because we have so many Vietnam veterans who have signed up to go on a flight. Honor Flight still has 600 Vietnam veterans who want to go as a veteran.”
For more information or to complete a Guardian application, visit honorflightqu.org.
Below is an Honor Flight visit to The United States Air Force Memorial.
