Hundreds of southern Illinoisans crowded into Veterans Memorial Airport Tuesday to welcome home the first-ever Honor Flight from this region.
The flight, which left Marion early Tuesday morning, took 57 veterans to Washington, DC to see monuments, visit historic sites, and be honored for their service.
Each veteran was paired with a "guardian," a volunteer who helped chauffeur them from point to point, and help them have the best experience possible.
The flight is free for veterans. Organizers say it's their way of saying "thank you" to a group of men and women who may not otherwise have an opportunity to see monuments and memorials for the service they gave to their country.
You can get more information on future trips at www.veteranshonorflight.org.
