News - Veterans Honor Flight

NEWS

14th Veterans Honor Flight set for May 2025

During the Welcome Home Celebration for Mission 13, which transported 89 honored Veterans to D.C., the Board of Directors of Veterans Honor Flight of Southern Illinois announced the mission will continue in the Spring. "We continue to get applications, and the mission is not over," said Bryan Questelle, Chairman. "As long as we have Veterans to honor, and the funding to do it, we're going back." Questelle said Mission 14 is planned for Tuesday, May 6, 2025, continuing the history of the organization operating one spring and one fall mission per year. Veterans Honor Flight of Southern Illinois has now flown over 1,000 Veterans from all across Southern Illinois and the surrounding area. Flights are completely free to Veterans and are provided completely by donations to the non-profit o [...Read more]

Welcome Home Mission 13

Join us at 5 p.m. for a festival of gratitude, love, and patriotism! Bring your banners, lawn chairs, and spirit as we roll out the red carpet for our heroes returning from Washington, D.C. The evening promises a vibrant atmosphere with delicious offerings from local food trucks like Cone to Table, Crazy Asian Eats, and more, while enjoying tunes from Daniel Brothers Band and Whiskey and Rust.

Our heartfelt ceremony begins at 8:45 p.m., led by Emcee Steve Falat and a stirring National Anthem. Let’s show our veterans the appreciat [...Read more]

Mission 13 Announced – Fully Funded by Previous Veterans’ Family

Veterans Honor Flight of Southern Illinois completed the twelfth mission to Washington DC today, with 89 veterans being honored. Upon the return at the Welcome Home Celebration held at Veterans Airport of Southern Illinois, the Board of Directors announced Mission 13 is scheduled for Tuesday, September 10, 2024. In addition, it was announced the Allan and Wanda McCabe Family Foundation has provided full financial support for Mission 13. Allan McCabe flew on his Honor Flight - Flight #3 on April 24, 2018. He was a U.S. Army veteran serving his country during the Korean War from 1950 to 1952.

[...Read more]

Everyone’s Invited to Welcome Home Mission 12 Veterans

Veterans Honor Flight of Southern Illinois welcomes everyone to join us on May 7 at Veterans Airport to welcome home 88 Veterans who are being honored on Mission 12. Festivities begin at 5:30pm. Mission 12 is expected to land at Veterans Airport around 8:30pm. The public is invited to bring signs to welcome our heroes home.

Food Trucks

Bring the family early for dinner!

Cone To Table
Flippin Crepe
Honey Beez Snowballz
The Fry Guy
Venezi Wood Pizza
The Caribbean Hut
Crazy Asian Eats

Kids Activities

Bouncy Houses
Face Painting
Snow Cones
Cotton Candy
Games

Parking[...Read more]

Mission 13 Veteran Application Deadline April 21

Veterans Honor Flight of Southern Illinois is deep into plans for a 13th Mission to Washington DC. Planned for the Fall of 2024, Mission 13 will aim to transport 85 veterans to DC to see the memorials built in their honor. Veterans Honor Flight currently has over 500 veteran applications on file, waiting for selection. In order to streamline the process for Mission 13, applications received after April 21, 2024 will not be considered for Mission 13, but will instead be kept active for consideration for future missions. Veterans who apply are kept active in the system until they are selected to fly or notify Veterans Honor Flight to remove them from selection. Applications are available online by going to the Vet [...Read more]

J&L Custom Automotive Leprechaun Hunt

J&L Custom Automotive in Mulkeytown is once again hosting an event to benefit Veterans Honor Flight. Returning for 2024 is the Leprechaun Hunt! Jeep lovers, get ready for a thrilling adventure! We're excited to announce that J & L Custom Automotive Leprechaun Hunt Jeep Run and Jeep Raffle is happening on March 16th, 2024. And guess what? It's not just for Jeeps - side by sides are welcome to join the fun too! This epic day of off-roading will culminate in a chance to win a 1998 Jeep Wrangler TJ Hardtop with a 4.0 motor. So, if you've been dreaming of owning a Jeep, this could be your lucky day! But that's not all. If you'd prefer a more laid-back evening, you can still support the Veterans Honor Flight of Southern Illinois at their dinner and silent auction. This eve [...Read more]

Mission 12 Takes Off May 7!

Upon the conclusion of Mission 11, the Board of Directors of Veterans Honor Flight of Southern Illinois announced the 12th mission to transport Veterans to Washington D.C. is scheduled for Tuesday, May 7, 2024. "The generosity of Southern Illinois just keeps coming," said Bryan Questelle, chairman. "Thanks to the donations made, we're able to continue our mission into 2024," he said. Mission 12 is expected to take 88 veterans to Washington. Veterans are selected based on conflict served and age. Veterans Honor Flight is currently selecting veterans born before 1947. All veterans, regardless of type of service, are eligible for Honor Flight. Veterans can apply online or [...Read more]

Welcome Home Information – Mission 11

Mission 11 is Tuesday, September 26, 2023.

Schedule

Rides Mass Transit busses from parking lot start at 5:00pm The Daniel Brothers perform at 6:00pm Whiskey & Rust perform at 7:00pm Welcome Veterans Home at 8:45pm (Flight lands at 8:30pm)

About The Welcome Home Celebration

The Welcome Home committee encourages the general public to bring Welcome Home banners and flags to the ceremony and wear patriotic attire. Multiple food trucks will be on site to provide dinner and snacks for the whole family. A portion of proceeds benefit Veterans Honor Flight. Veterans that have been on previous Honor Flights are also encouraged to come out in your red shirts and have VIP access at the Welcome Home Celebration.

Food Trucks

American Ice Cr [...Read more]

Mission 11 Scheduled for September 26, 2023

Veterans Honor Flight of Southern Illinois will return to Washington DC on Tuesday, September 26, 2023. Veterans can register on our web site to be considered for the flight. Mission 10 on May 9th, 2023, carried our 700th veteran. We expect our 800th veteran to be carried on Mission 11. [...Read more]

Harrison-Bruce Foundation Fully Funds Flight 10

Area veterans will have even more chances to be served by Veterans Honor Flight thanks to an influx of funding from Herrin’s Harrison-Bruce Foundation. Treasurer Randy Youngblood made the announcement Friday at a volunteer appreciation dinner being held to thank the hundreds of volunteers who make Veterans Honor Flight possible. The Harrison-Bruce Foundation has provided funding in excess of $125,000 to fully fund the upcoming 10th flight scheduled for May 9, 2023. Flight 10 is expected to take 87 veterans to D.C. along with guardians. “We are very careful with every dollar donated, because we want to serve the veterans,” Youngblood said. “Our team maintains excellent [...Read more]