Sixty-three years after enlisting in the United States Air Force, Elmer Prins, a resident of Windsor Manor Assisted Living in Morrison, IL., will be honored for his military service with a special trip to Washington D.C. on April 30, 2015. Prins, along with other war veterans from Lee and Whiteside counties, will be taken on an Honor Flight from Quad Cities International Airport to Washington D.C. for a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Prins will travel with his daughter, Marilyn Tichler, who nominated him for the free trip given by the Honor Flight of the Quad Cities. The flight is the organization’s first in 2015.
“This is the first time he will have ever gone to Washington D.C., so it’s quite exciting,” said Tichler, a resident of Morrison. “It’s going to be a very long day, but we are both very much looking forward to the trip.”
On the day of his Honor Flight, Prins and fellow veterans will visit the World War II Memorial, as well as the Navy, Korean, Vietnam and Lincoln memorials. They will also experience the Changing of the Guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. Their final stop before returning home will be to the Marine (Iwo Jima) and Air Force memorials. The honor flight recipients will return to Quad Cities International around 10:00 p.m. the same day.
Residents and staff at Windsor Manor Assisted Living are also planning to honor Prins for his service by providing him thank you notes to read while on the flight. Danielle Vance, Executive Director for Windsor Manor Assisted Living,
said, “Elmer is part of our family at Windsor Manor. We want him to know how much he’s loved and how grateful we are for what he gave up to help our country.” Prins enlisted in the Air Force in 1952 and served during The Korean War. He was stationed in Italy and worked mainly as a truck driver. Following his discharge from the Air Force in 1956, Prins returned to Morrison and enlisted in the National Guard from 1956 to 1960. He and his family have lived in Morrison ever since. He became the first resident to move into Windsor Manor Assisted Living in August 2014.
The Honor Flight of the Quad Cities website states the organization’s intention is to honor our local and regional heroes who were selfless in their military duty with a free trip to visit their memorials. Veterans within a 75-mile radius of the Quad Cities are encouraged to apply. The program operates on donations from organizations and individuals. Volunteers of all kinds plan and coordinate the flight events, and special guardians are trained to help escort the veterans on flight days.
About Windsor Manor Assisted Living – Windsor Manor Assisted Living, located at 403 Scenic Street in Morrison, Illinois, offers one and two bedroom assisted living apartments and memory care apartments. Located just off Lincoln Highway with quick access to Morrison Community Hospital and downtown Morrison, Windsor Manor is ideal for people who wish to stay connected to the community they love.