In the News
Sharon Lake was awarded with the Patriotism Award on June 9 at the VFW State Convention. From left, Royce Kelb, VFW State Commander, Judy Collins Northcutt, VFW Department of Missouri President, Sharon Lake, and Jo Ann Diffenderfer, 2022-23 auxiliary patriotic instructor. contributed
Great River Honor Flight
Mission #64
May 11
Receives Invitation to visit White House
The Great River Honor Flight Board of Directors were notified on Monday that the 28 veterans and 28 guardians visiting Washington, DC this Thursday, May 11th are being invited to tour the White House as part of the 50th Vietnam Commemoration Event that is being celebrated in our Nation’s Capital.
Of the 28 veterans on this mission, 24 served during the Vietnam era and the White House would like to host the entire group for a tour.
This will be a first of its kind adaptation to the typical itinerary that veterans from the Tri State have enjoyed over the past 14 years as part of their Honor Flight experience,
Last minute details are being worked out to fit this special tour into what is an already packed itinerary of the major memorials dedicated to our veterans in DC.
This will be the 64th mission overall for local veterans since the program started serving the Tri State region in 2010. Since then, 2,037 local veterans who served in WWII, Korea, Vietnam and between those conflicts have previously participated in this program. The 28 veterans come from Illinois (Adams, Brown, Pike, McDonough and St. Clair), Missouri (Marion and Lewis), plus Iowa (Lee) will be part of this mission.
The departure and return on May 11th will be from John Wood Community College in Quincy. The trip will follow the itinerary that has been so successful over the past 13 years. It includes a 3:00AM departure for a bus ride to Lambert Field in St. Louis where they will board their flight to Baltimore and then on to DC. The first stop will be at the Vietnam Wall Memorial. This stop will also include visits to the nearby Korea and Lincoln Memorials. A special commemoration for Vietnam Veterans is opening that day next to the Reflecting Pool named Camp Legacy that will feature various military exhibits from that era. Next on their itinerary is a stop at the World War II Memorial, which sits next to the Washington Monument and where a group picture will be taken. Next will be a tour of DC as well as a stop at the Iwo Jima Memorial and then an emotional visit to Arlington National Cemetery including seeing the ceremonial changing of the guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. The DC trip will conclude with dinner at the Air Force Memorial overlooking the Pentagon. The veterans will then head to Reagan International Airport for their return flight back to St. Louis. A charter bus will bring them back to John Wood’s Sports Arena for a rousing homecoming. The expected arrival time back in Quincy will be around 10:30PM.
Great River Honor Flight was started on Veterans Day 2009 with its first flight scheduled on April 13, 2010. Back then all the veterans were from World War II. That is the way it continued for several years until it was decided to expand to those veterans who had served during the Korean War. Since then we have also expanded to include veterans during the Vietnam War as well as those who served thru 1985. Our goal remains to increase the total number of local veterans who have flown to Washington DC for FREE.
To date Great River Honor Flight, the Tri-States’ hub of the Honor Flight program has flown 2,037 local Veterans to Washington D.C. since it was established in 2009. This trip will increase that total to 2,066.
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
Great River Honor Flight
Mission #63 Kicks Off 2023 Season
The Great River Honor Flight Board of Directors are announcing the first 2023 mission to Washington, DC will be on April 6, 2023. This is the first of 6 trips planned for this year and will also be the first time that the homecoming will take place at Hannibal High School’s Korf Gymnasium.
This will be the 63rd mission overall for local veterans since the program started serving the Tri State region in 2010. Since then, 2,009 local veterans who served in WWII, Korea, Vietnam and between those conflicts have previously participated in this program. Approximately 29 veterans from Illinois (Adams, Pike, Hancock, McDonough and St. Clair), Missouri (Marion, Pike, Clark, Lewis, Pike, Monroe and Ralls), plus Iowa (Lee) will be part of this mission. The group includes 26 Vietnam veterans, 1 Korea veteran and 2 Armed Forces Veteran who served between those conflicts. They will be accompanied by 27 guardians whose sole responsibility is making sure the veterans’ needs during the trip are addressed.
The departure and return on April 6th will be from Hannibal High School. The trip will follow the itinerary that has been so successful over the past 13 years. It includes a 3:30AM departure for a bus ride to Lambert Field in St. Louis where they will board their flight to Baltimore and then on to DC. The first stop will be at the Vietnam Wall Memorial. This stop will also include visits to the nearby Korea and Lincoln Memorials. Next on their itinerary is a stop at the World War II Memorial, which sits next to the Washington Monument and where a group picture will be taken. Next will be a tour of DC as well as a stop at the Iwo Jima Memorial and then an emotional visit to Arlington National Cemetery including seeing the ceremonial changing of the guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. The DC trip will conclude with dinner at the Air Force Memorial overlooking the Pentagon. The veterans will then head to Reagan International Airport for their return flight back to St. Louis. A charter bus will bring them back to Hannibal High School’s Korf Gymnasium for a rousing homecoming. The expected arrival time back in Hannibal will be around 10:15PM.
Great River Honor Flight was started on Veterans Day 2009 with its first flight scheduled on April 13, 2010. Back then all the veterans were from World War II. That is the way it continued for several years until it was decided to expand to those veterans who had served during the Korean War. Since then we have also expanded to include veterans during the Vietnam War as well as those who served thru 1985. Our goal remains to increase the total number of local veterans who have flown to Washington DC for FREE.
To date Great River Honor Flight, the Tri-States’ hub of the Honor Flight program has flown 2,009 local Veterans to Washington D.C. since it was established in 2009. This trip will increase that total to 2,038.
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
Representatives Jerry and Holly Yokum from Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1921 in Macomb, presented Great River Honor Flight board members Carlos Fernandez and Tom Geise with a donation of $2,500.
Vietnam Veteran Glenn Gage, who went on the 62nd mission of the Great River Honor Flight on October 13, 2022 received this blanket from his son Christopher, who was his guardian. It is made up of pictures from that day's trip to Washington, DC.
Great River Honor Flight
2023 Mission Schedule and Expanded Veteran Eligibility
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 High School (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
January 24, 2023
Great River Honor Flight Chairman, Carlos Fernandez accepts a donation from Erin Paulson, Principal of St. Peter's Catholic School in Fulton for the Honor Flight.
Great River Honor Flight board member, Barry Cheyne talks to the students of St. Peter's Catholic School in Fulton, Missouri about the Honor Flight program.
Great River Honor Flight board members Annette Hoskins and Tom Geise receive a donation from Linda Gilker of Linda's Just One Bar and Grill for $1,185. Funds were raised on October 1 when they held an event to help support the program.
Great River Honor Flight
Mission #61 Set for September 15
The Great River Honor Flight Board of Directors are announcing that the next mission to Washington, DC will be on September 15, 2022.
This will be the 61st mission overall for local veterans since the program started serving the Tri State region in 2010. Since then, 1,9466 local veterans who served in WWII, Korea, Vietnam and between those conflicts have previously participated in this program. Approximately 33 additional veterans from Illinois (Adams, McDonough, Hancock, and Pike), Missouri (Marion, Clark, Lewis, and Ralls), plus Iowa (Lee and Appanoose) will be part of this return mission.
The departure and return on September 15th will be from the Quincy campus of John Wood University. The trip will follow the itinerary that has been so successful over the past 12 years. It includes a 2AM departure for a bus ride to Lambert Field in St. Louis where they will board their flight to Baltimore and then on to DC. The first stop will be at the Vietnam Wall Memorial. This stop will also include visits to the nearby Korea and Lincoln Memorials. Next on their itinerary is a stop at the World War II Memorial, which sits next to the Washington Monument and where a group picture will be taken. Next will be a tour of DC as well as a stop at the Iwo Jima Memorial and then an emotional visit to Arlington National Cemetery including seeing the ceremonial changing of the guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. The DC trip will conclude with dinner at the Air Force Memorial overlooking the Pentagon. The veterans will then head to Reagan International Airport for their return flight back to St. Louis. A charter bus will bring them back to the JWCC campus for a rousing homecoming. The expected arrival time back in Hannibal will be around 10:30PM.
Great River Honor Flight was started on Veterans Day 2009 with its first flight scheduled on April 13, 2010. Back then all the veterans were from World War II. That is the way it continued for several years until it was decided to expand to those veterans who had served during the Korean War. Since then we have also expanded to include veterans during the Vietnam War as well as those who served between those conflicts. Now that we are back to scheduling flights, our goal is to continue to increase the total number of local veterans who have flown to Washington DC for free thanks to the financial support of so many individuals, groups and businesses in the area who remained supportive of the cause over the past 2 years.
To date Great River Honor Flight, the Tri-States’ hub of the Honor Flight program has flown 1,946 local Veterans to Washington D.C. since it was established in 2009. This trip will increase that total to 1,979.
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
Great River Honor Flight
Mission #60 Set for August 18th
The Great River Honor Flight Board of Directors are announcing that the next mission to Washington, DC will be on August 18, 2022.
This will be the 60th mission overall for local veterans since the program started serving the Tri State region in 2010. Since then, 1,916 local veterans who served in WWII, Korea, Vietnam and between those conflicts have previously participated in this program. Approximately 31 additional veterans from Illinois (Adams, McDonough, Clinton, and Brown), Missouri (Marion, Pike, Clark, and Ralls), plus Iowa (Lee) will be part of this return mission.
The departure and return on August 18th will be from the Hannibal campus of Hannibal LaGrange University. The August 18th trip will follow the itinerary that has been so successful over the past 12 years. It includes a 2AM departure for a bus ride to Lambert Field in St. Louis where they will board their flight to Baltimore and then on to DC. The first stop will be at the Vietnam Wall Memorial. This stop will also include visits to the nearby Korea and Lincoln Memorials. Next on their itinerary is a stop at the World War II Memorial, which sits next to the Washington Monument and where a group picture will be taken. Next will be a tour of DC as well as a stop at the Iwo Jima Memorial and then an emotional visit to Arlington National Cemetery including seeing the ceremonial changing of the guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. The DC trip will conclude with dinner at the Air Force Memorial overlooking the Pentagon. The veterans will then head to Reagan International Airport for their return flight back to St. Louis. A charter bus will bring them back to the HLGU campus for a rousing homecoming. The expected arrival time back in Hannibal will be around 10:15PM..
Great River Honor Flight was started on Veterans Day 2009 with its first flight scheduled on April 13, 2010. Back then all the veterans were from World War II. That is the way it continued for several years until it was decided to expand to those veterans who had served during the Korean War. Since then we have also expanded to include veterans during the Vietnam War as well as those who served between those conflicts. Now that we are back to scheduling flights, our goal is to continue to increase the total number of local veterans who have flown to Washington DC for free thanks to the financial support of so many individuals, groups and businesses in the area who remained supportive of the cause over the past 2 years.
To date Great River Honor Flight, the Tri-States’ hub of the Honor Flight program has flown 1,915 local Veterans to Washington D.C. since it was established in 2009. This trip will increase that total to 1,946.
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
Chuck Wagon Cookout Event
The Mid America Chuck Wagon Association presented the Great River Honor Flight with a donation of $5,000 from their chuck wagon cookout event in Shelbina that took place last weekend.
Those attending were treated to food - cowboy style - from 7 chuck wagons from Missouri, Iowa, Ohio, Michigan, Arkansas and Kansas.
This is the 5th year that the Association has donated to the Honor Flight program. To date they have raised $22,500 to help support its mission.
The next Honor Flight, #60, is scheduled for Thursday, August 18th out of Hannibal LaGrange University. To date 1,911 local veterans have gone to DC for FREE to tour their memorials first hand.
