Greater Peoria Honor Flight celebrates 30th flight [Video]

PEORIA (25News Now) – Peoria International Airport was a sea of red, white, and blue Tuesday morning. As the skies were painted gold, Greater Peoria Honor Flight was getting ready for lift-off for their golden flight since starting in 2013.

On the 30th Honor Flight, 74 veterans and their companions are headed to Washington, D.C., for the first trip of 2024. The group mainly consisted of Vietnam veterans and nine Korean War veterans.

Donald Wilson, a U.S. Navy Veteran who served during the Korean War from 1952 to 1958, says being on this flight is an honor for many veterans who did not receive a welcome home when they returned from service.

“I’m just trying to take it all in and enjoy the time and be ever so thankful for all the people that put this on,” said Wilson.

The group will tour the war memorials in Washington, D.C., for the day, returning Tuesday …