Hundreds welcome 90 Southern Illinois veterans home after flight delay
FOX23 News at 9 p.m
MARION, Ill. (KBSI) — Hundreds of people gathered at Veterans Airport of Southern Illinois on Tuesday to welcome home 90 veterans returning from Mission 17.
The veterans spent the day in Washington, D.C., visiting the memorials and monuments built to honor their service.
Their return was delayed after the pilot assigned to Monday night’s flight experienced a family emergency. Veterans, guardians and Honor Flight team members stayed overnight in the Washington area before returning to Marion on Tuesday.
The unexpected delay did not stop families and community members from filling the airport with flags, signs and cheers.
Jim Summers of West Frankfort said he struggled to hold back tears as he walked through the crowd.
“I had to fight back the tears. It was so emotional, and it was great,” Summers said. “The people from the Honor Flight are just unsung heroes. They are so wonderful.”
For Summers, the celebration stood in sharp contrast to the reception he received when he returned from military service 56 years ago.
“The only persons there were my family,” Summers said. “You had to come through the airport where the people were not very friendly. But that’s the past. This is now, and this is good.”
Veterans Honor Flight of Southern Illinois provides veterans with a free trip to Washington. The organization covers airfare, motor coach transportation, food, entry fees and supplies.
The itinerary includes stops at the National World War II Memorial, Lincoln Memorial, Korean War Veterans Memorial, Vietnam Veterans Memorial and Arlington National Cemetery. Additional stops are included when time allows.
Clifford Harrell said the experience was difficult to describe, especially the surprise veterans received during their journey home.
“I’ll tell you what, if you ever get a chance to go on this trip, words cannot describe how great a trip,” Harrell said. “The big surprise is on your way home because you’re going to receive something that I really don’t want to tell you about. It’ll just tear you totally apart.”
Veteran Jesse Jeralds was among those waiting at the airport. Jeralds said he has missed only two Honor Flight homecomings since traveling on Honor Flight number eight.
This homecoming carried additional meaning because his younger brother, Delbert Gerald, was among the veterans on the flight.
“That’s my main reason for being here,” Jeralds said. “But the others, because I respect the people who’ve been on this and been in the service.”
Jeralds encouraged others to attend a future welcome-home celebration.
“If you’re missing this, you are missing the world,” he said.
Anyone who has worn a U.S. military uniform is eligible to apply for an Honor Flight, including members of the Reserves and National Guard. The organization gives first priority to terminally ill veterans, then selects applicants by their era of service and age.
Veterans who are not selected for the next flight remain on the organization’s active list and do not need to reapply. Applications are available through the Veterans Honor Flight of Southern Illinois website.
