MARION – Over 80 veterans boarded a plane at Veterans Airport of Southern Illinois in Marion Tuesday morning to embark on the 10th Veterans Honor Flight of Southern Illinois.

According to the Veterans Honor Flight website, this event is dedicated to honoring our veterans with a free trip to Washington, D.C. to visit their monuments and memorials. These memorials were built to honor their service, and officials believe it is imperative they have the opportunity to see them.

So what does it take to put on an event like this? Donations. Bryan Questelle is chairman of the Honor Flight Board of Directors.

The flight is set to return to Marion later this evening where a Welcome Home Celebration will begin at 8:45 p.m. There will be live entertainment, food trucks and more starting at 5 p.m.

Due to limited parking at the airport, Rides Mass Transit will provide free park-and-ride transportation services from multiple locations including Sam’s Club and Cornerstone Church in Marion. Buses will depart from these off-site parking locations throughout the event every 20 minutes beginning at 5 p.m.

Honor Flight 11 is set for this September. If you would like to donate, go to veteranshonorflight.org or go to any Peoples National Bank location and they will put your donation into the Honor Flight’s account.