Honor flight carries local veterans to nation's capital

Tools

Kendall Downing

Story Created: Thu Sep 13, 2012 11:42 PM

Story Updated: Thu Sep 13, 2012 11:48 PM

 MARION, Ill. - They're called the Greatest Generation, veterans of World War II. But time is not on their side for many of them if they want to make it to Washington, D.C. to see the memorial created in their honor. 

Statistics show veterans of World War II are dying at the rate of 1,200 per day. That's why the rush is on to get them to the nation's capital on honor flights.

Thursday some 75 veterans and their guardians boarded a plane in Marion, Illinois for a two-day mission sponsored by Central Illinois Honor Flight.

The veterans will return to the area on Friday. The public is invited to welcome them back at the Williamson County Regional Airport at 7 p.m.

Click to watch the video above to see the sights and sounds as veterans boarded the plane Thursday morning.