Honoring those who served

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HENRY — It was just a couple of months ago when Keith Baldwin of Henry first heard about the Honor Flight program.

“I was so sold on it, I couldn’t rest until I started doing something,” he said. “I was just enthused.”

Honor Flight is a nationwide organization dedicated to flying as many World War II veterans as possible to Washington, D.C. to view their memorial. Honor Flight Quad Cities is one of the hubs in this organization and has taken two planeloads of veterans out there already.

Baldwin’s “something” meant putting together a group to help raise funds for the program. Each trip costs a total of $90,000, and small groups like Baldwin’s are collectively trying to raise two-thirds of that total. For the next flight, planned for sometime next spring, that means raising $3,500.

“We’ve had great success so far,” he said. “Everybody’s really, really working hard.”

Honor Flights fly World War II veterans on a one-day trip to Washington, D.C. at no cost. Baldwin said the veterans and guardians, volunteers who help out by doing things such as pushing wheelchairs or carrying oxygen tanks, will be bussed to the Quad City Airport, where they will board a charted aircraft for the trip. Once in Washington, D.C., they board busses for the trip to the World War II Memorial where a short service is held. Other stops include the Korean Memorial, the Vietnam Wall and Arlington Cemetery.

Honor Flight Quad Cities’ first two Honor Flights were on Nov. 1, 2008, and April 15, 2009. The next two back-to-back flights will be held Oct. 9 and 10. There are 162 seats on a flight, and about 100 of them are filled with World War II veterans. The guardian volunteers, who each pay the $550 fee to accompany the veterans, fill the rest of the seats.

Baldwin, a Korean War veteran, recently heard he will be allowed to fly as a guardian on an upcoming flight.

“It’s a big thing for me,” he said.

Baldwin feels a sense of urgency because the World War II veterans are dying at a rate of more than 1,200 per day nationwide. Due to the weather, the flying season is only April through November, and there are currently about 400 names on the waiting list, which is estimated to be about one to two years long, depending on how quickly the necessary funds are raised.

Honor Flights are not federally funded and rely strictly on sponsors or donors.

Two fundraising events will be held at the Princeton Burger King on Oct. 15 and Nov. 5. Diners with a coupon who order off a specific menu will see 20 percent of their meal dollars go to the program. For more information, contact Baldwin at (309) 364-2948 or Don Allison at (309) 364-2271. Veterans interested in getting an application or donors looking for more information should also contact Baldwin or Allison.

Honor Flight Quad Cities offers its services to all veterans within a 75-mile radius. To learn more, visit the Web site www.qchonorflight.org.

A benefit for Honor Flight Quad Cities will be held from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. today, Saturday, in the parking lot of the IGA Grocery, located on Route 71 in Granville. The menu includes a pork chop dinner for $7, sandwich only for $5, hot dog for $2, or a soda for $1. Raffle and 50/50 tickets will be available. The benefit is sponsored by American Legion Post 180 of Granville and American Legion Post 323 of Henry.

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