LANSING, Ill. (May 10, 2023) – In spite of the 18-hour day that started before sunrise, Lansing veteran Bill Benne was all smiles as he got out of his car in the parking lot of Sunrise Health Foods. The crowd that greeted him included 15 Legion Riders, two Trustees, 4 police officers, and miscellaneous family and friends.
Benne had spent the day in Washington DC as part of the 107th Honor Flight from Chicago. The day is designed to recognize veterans and give them an opportunity to be escorted to the various memorials and museums constructed in their honor. The first 2023 flight had been planned for April, but dangerous weather in DC forced a cancellation. Most of the April veterans were rescheduled to this May flight.
Milt Stennis, another Lansing veteran, was also on the trip, though at the end of his long day he didn’t stop for the welcome home party.
Around 10:30 p.m. the Legion Riders mounted their bikes, and Lansing police stopped traffic on Torrence Avenue to allow the bikers to escort Benne home:
Related
- Lansing welcomes two Vietnam vets home from final Honor Flight of 2019 (November 9, 2019)
- Honor Flight Chicago to resume veteran flights this summer (July 6, 2021)
- Honor Flight Chicago recognizes veterans who won’t get to fly this year (August 6, 2021)
Lansing Fire Department was there to meet our veterans but were not in the photo!
Honor Flight Chicago has 5 more flights this flight season. If anyone needs more information regarding Honor Flight Chicago they can contact me at [email protected] or go directly to the Honor Flight Chicago website at honorflightchicago.org
Follow Honor Flight Chicago on their Facebook page!
Thank you for your service Milton and Bill…and WELCOME HOME!
Dr. Maureen Grady Perovich