MARION – Dozens of veterans will get on a plane at Veterans Airport of Southern Illinois in Marion early Tuesday morning and make their way to Washington, D.C. as part of Mission 13 of the Veterans Honor Flight of Southern Illinois. The veterans will get to see the memorials honoring their service. 

The veterans will then return home later that evening and as always, they are welcomed back with a Welcome Home ceremony at the airport.

It begins at 5 p.m. with live music, food trucks and a kid-friendly zone. The Welcome Back Ceremony gets underway at 8:45 p.m. You should bring your lawn chairs and wear patriotic attire.

Since parking is limited at the airport, you can catch a shuttle bus every 20 minutes beginning at 5 p.m. in the parking lot at Sam’s Club and Cornerstone Church on Walton Way in Marion.

More information can be found at veteranshonorflight.org.