Help welcome back Eastern Iowa Honor Flight veterans Tuesday evening

On Tuesday morning, the Eastern Iowa Honor Flight will launch EIHF Flight No. 42. There are 89 veterans scheduled for this flight: one from World War II, one from the Korean conflict, one from the Korean/Vietnam era, 85 from the Vietnam War and one from another conflict.

Since Eastern Iowa Honor Flight began operations in 2009, to date, it has transported 3,702 veterans, plus their guardians, to Washington, D.C. to visit the memorials dedicated to their service and sacrifice. While there, they will visit the World War II, Korean and Vietnam memorials, as well as visit Arlington National Cemetery for a special wreath dedication.

Veterans will begin reporting into The Eastern Iowa Airport at 5:45 a.m. on Tuesday with an estimated departure time of 7:15 a.m. Estimated return time to Cedar Rapids (barring any delays) is 8:45 p.m.

The community is invited to come out and welcome home our veterans.

Parking is free. Come early, as the lots fill up quickly. You can park in either long- or short-term lots. When you come into the terminal, please stop by and pick up your free parking pass at the information booth. (Masks currently are required while inside the airport.) When you leave that night, present both that pass and the parking ticket you got when you pulled into the lot, when you leave the lot that evening.

Many veterans never received a “thank you, welcome home” when they returned from their service. Here is a chance to make up for that. Organizers hope to see a large crowd at the airport on Tuesday evening.

The Eastern Iowa Honor Flight is a federally recognized 501(c) 3 nonprofit organization staffed entirely by volunteers dedicated to honor and pay tribute to World War II, Korean, Vietnam Era and other veterans.

For questions about the Eastern Iowa Honor Flight, please contact

easterniowahonorflight@gmail.com.