World War II veterans sought for honor flights to Washington D.C.

Since 2008, Honor Flight Chicago has taken thousands of World War II veterans to Washington D.C. to tour memorials as a thank-you for their service.

All the free day trips are considered special for the passengers and to those who support and appreciate their sacrifices for the country.

“It’s a very humbling experience to be in their midst,” said Lindi Strobel, an Honor Flight Chicago ambassador and manager of the organization’s north region.

And the flight scheduled to depart Wednesday morning from Midway Airport has added significance as the 50th provided by the privately funded, not-for-profit group.

“I think our main concern was, `One flight at a time,’” Read Boeckel, secretary of the organization and a board member since its inception, said of the milestone. “Instead of being overwhelmed, we’re just plain happy.”

Boeckel said the originators knew they had a good idea but weren’t sure how it would be received.

Donations and gifts allowed the flights to continue, and a dedicated network of more than 500 volunteers who love and have fun serving those who have served have made it work.

The reward is in the eyes and words of the many veterans who characterize the trip and the accompanying ceremony as among the best and most memorable days of their lives.

“I’m happy that the good thing we wanted to do has been such a success,” Boeckel said. However, the numbers also tell another story. According to Strobel, about 4,500 veterans have taken the flight over those six years. But there are an estimated 20,000 other World War II vets in northern Illinois who haven’t been reached.

Waiting lists had dwindled and the Honor Flight Chicago this year started a “Locate Our Heroes” initiative to spread the word.

“We want to try and fly as many of these men and women out there as we can before they can’t do it anymore. Time is of the essence,” Strobel said.

While the 50th flight anniversary is significant, it isn’t the focus, Boeckel agreed.

“The most important thing right now is to get these people signed up before it’s too late,” he said.

Honor Flight Chicago is an official chapter of the National Honor Flight organization and the largest of nine hubs in Illinois, Strobel said. But because of its name, people mistakenly think the service is limited to veterans who live in the city. Veterans from throughout northern Illinois, southern Wisconsin and northwest Indiana have and can participate.

“We specifically targeted Lake County (Illinois) to let them know we’re looking for them,” Strobel said.

Eight to 10 flights are taken April through October of each year, with 85 to 100 veterans on each trip. The average age of the participants is 90.

The organization has used a variety of methods to raise awareness in Lake County, including: visits to the Captain James A. Lovell Federal Health Care Center; presentations at local VFW and American Legion posts; a promotional partnership with the Culver’s restaurant chain; and, ‘secondary recruitment’ in which literature is left at locations visited by relatives of eligible veterans.

“We fly from Lake County, too, along with all the surrounding area Chicago counties,” she said. “We want people to know we’re not a Chicago-only group,” Strobel said.

Ten veterans from Lake County will be on the milestone flight Wednesday, including one who was at Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941, when the Japanese attacked, and another who was at Iwo Jima.

“Locate Our Heroes” has been successful. The remaining flights for this year have been filled. The waiting list for the entire Honor Flight Chicago coverage area has grown to about 250 World War II veterans, including several dozen from Lake County, Strobel said.

“It always makes them laugh that we’re recruiting them,” Strobel said. “This time around, it’s a good thing.”

The search for World War II vets will continue until there are no more takers. At that point, Honor Flight Chicago will begin flying Korean War veterans but that probably will take years, Strobel said.

“We have no way of saying when that will be,” she said. “Seeing as we’re flying 95-year-olds, who knows?”

For more information visit www.honorflightchicago.org or call (773) 227-VETS (8387) or (847) 219-5050.