Seventy-seven area military veterans and their Guardians-for-a-Day, will be honored for their military service, with a special trip to Washington, D.C. on Thursday, June 7, 2018. They will soar on a free Honor Flight from Quad Cities International Airport, for a once-in-a-lifetime experience–to view National monuments dedicated to their branch of the Armed Services.
A dozen members of the Morrison, IL, American Legion and their Guardians will be in the group: Lawrence Bealer; Gerald Damhoff; Phillip Dorsey; Jerry Engelkins; Terry Jones; Kenneth Petersen; James Pessman; Gary Seaman; Fred Steele and his Guardian son, Mark; Dale Usterbowski and his Guardian son, Matthew.
Petersen noted his application was a gift from his daughter, Vicki Neels, to commemorate his 80th birthday.
R. C. Smith Transportation, 606 Portland Avenue, Morrison, will drive these men to Latin American Social Club, 2708 W. 4th Street, Sterling, IL, in time for a vehicle switch and 4:30 a.m. departure.
Two coaches from Wiersema Charter Service, Inc. 15049 Lyndon Road, Morrison, will drive the veterans from Latin American Social Club to the airport. Wiersema will return the 77 sleepy veterans to Sterling after their expected landing at 10:30 to 11:00 p.m.
On the day of their Honor Flight, these Legionnaires and fellow veterans will visit the World War II Memorial, shown below, and the Navy, Korean, Vietnam, and Lincoln memorials. They will experience the Changing of the Guard ceremony at “The Tomb of the Unknowns” in Arlington National Cemetery. Their final stops will be to the Marine (Iwo Jima) and Air Force memorials.
Honor Flight recipients are always welcomed home ceremoniously at Quad Cities International, around 10:30 or 11:00 p.m. Ask any of these local travelers about their trip.
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.
