THE FOLLOWING IS A NEWS-GAZETTE STORY BY JENNIFER BAILEY
Veterans Affairs Illiana Healthcare System
ABOVE: Veterans view images of the Korean War Memorial in Washington, DC during Tuesday’s Flightless Honor Flight at Veterans Affairs Illiana Care Center in Danville. (Jennifer Bailey / The News-Gazette)
DANVILLE — Amid a sea of red, white and blue as she walked alongside her Navy veteran father in a wheelchair down a long hallway at Veterans Affairs Illiana Healthcare System, Molly Irwin had just three words:
“This is awesome.”
Irwin and her father, Eldon, were part of the inaugural Flightless Honor Flight at the facility, where they and about 40 other veterans were feted by employees, representatives of veterans’ organizations, area students and others who cheered, held handmade signs and gave well wishes, with many thanking the veterans for their service and being thanked by the veterans in return.
The event was emotional for Air Force veteran Jennie Magnuson, who lives in Courage House on the VA campus and led the procession.
She was fortunate enough to go on an Honor Flight in 2019 to Washington, D.C., where her group toured the memorials. The best part for her, of course, was the Air Force Memorial.
“That was so nice. That was my best trip,” she said.
