Southern Indiana Honor Flight Asking for Thank You Cards for Upcoming Flight Veterans

Organizers of the Southern Indiana Honor Flight are asking for your help making the veterans taking the upcoming flight to Washington D.C. feel extra special by writing them Thank You cards and letters thanking them for their service to our country.

The Next Southern Indiana Honor Flight is Set to Take Off on October 29th

Honor Flight of Southern Indiana is one of 133 hubs around the country that honors our local veterans for their service by taking them on a one-day, round-trip to Washington D.C. "to visit (the) memorials built to honor their service to the nation."

The flights happen twice each year, in the spring and the fall, with the next flight scheduled to take off from Evansville Regional Airport on Saturday, October 29th. The flights feature veterans from World War II, the Korean and Vietnam Wars, along with Operation Desert Storm, Operation Iraqi Freedom, and the War in Afghanistan, as well as non-combat veterans. The October 29th flight will be attended by four World War II veterans that range in age from 94 to 104, according to the organization's President Julie Holtz.

Honor Flight Organizers Requesting Thank You Cards for Flight Passengers

In addition to giving these well-deserving individuals the opportunity to visit our nation's capitol to thank them for their sacrifice, the organization also provides them letters and cards thanking them for their bravery. That's where you, your friends, and your family come in. The letters received by the passengers on the flight are all written by members of the community like you and me. Holtz says the veterans are given half the letters before the flight takes off and the other half after they return home that evening.

If you would like to provide one of those letters, simply write or type one up, place it in a sealed envelope, and drop it off at one of the following locations:

• Any Evansville-Vanderburgh Public Library branch
• American Red Cross (intersection of Stockwell Avenue and the Lloyd Expressway)
• Mission BBQ
• Any Southern Indiana Old National Bank Branch

Letters can be made out to a specific veteran, if you know one who will be on the flight, or if you don't and just want to express your gratitude for their service, you can simply open your letter with, "Dear Veteran." Children are also encouraged to participate by writing their own letters or drawing a picture.

The deadline for letters is the close of business this Saturday, October 22nd.

Welcome Home Parade

The organization is also inviting the public to Evansville Regional Airport Saturday evening to welcome the veterans back home following their trip. If you like to participate, parking will be available at Anchor Industries on Highway 41 just west of the airport. Shuttle service will be provided to and from the airport from Anchor.