Lake County Honor Flight to hold ribbon cutting in North Chicago

The Exchange Club of North Chicago has founded Lake County Illinois Honor Flight and is officially an Honor Flight Hub that will transport America’s veterans to Washington, D.C., to visit the memorials dedicated to honor their service and sacrifices.

Honor Flight Network’s goal is “Helping every single veteran in America, willing and able of getting on a plane or a bus, visit their memorial.”

According to the Exchange Club of North Chicago, they are the first and only Exchange Club in the nation that has taken such measures in initiating an Honor Flight Hub. They are planning their first trip to Washington, D.C., under Lake County Honor Flight in the fall of 2013.

To join in the accomplishment and to help spread the message of Lake County Honor Flight, the public is invited to the Lake County Honor Flight Ribbon Cutting Ceremony at noon Saturday, Aug. 3, at the North Chicago Community Days Celebration.

They will also host a “Dunk a Mayor” fundraiser for the Exchange Club of North Chicago, in which North Chicago Mayor Leon Rockingham and Gurnee Mayor Kristina Kovarik and other special guests have volunteered to be in a dunk tank in support of the club and veterans.

North Chicago Community Days is on the 1700 block of Lewis Avenue in the city of North Chicago. The event starts with a 5K at 8 a.m. and a parade at 10 a.m. The official opening ceremony takes place at noon on the main stage.

For more information, email CommunityDays@NorthChicago.org.