Honor Flight of the Quad Cities (HFQC) is organizing a first-time reunion to bring together any area veterans to have participated on one of its 60+ flights to Washington, D.C., over the past 18 years.
The reunion is set for 1-4 p.m., Tuesday, July 9, at the Quad Cities Waterfront Convention Center in downtown Bettendorf. The reunion group will be greeted by the Patriot Guard Riders and Honor Flight volunteers. Festivities will include music, refreshments, pins for Vietnam Vets, and opportunities to share your flight memories with old and new friends.
Steve Garrington, the director of the local Honor Flight hub, said the organization’s board came up with the idea as a way to also celebrate the nation’s 250th birthday.
Since the Quad Cities hub’s inception 18 years ago, he said more than 6,000 veterans from the Quad Cities and beyond have been honored to take the flight to the nation’s capital for a bus tour of the memorials in Washington, D.C., built to recognize the service and sacrifice of our veterans.
To attend the reunion, organizers said veterans can simply show up with their gold Honor Flight T-shirt or jacket as their ticket. No RSVPs are required. Veterans also may bring a guest and are encouraged to bring photos and memories to share.
Founded as a local hub and chapter of the Honor Flight Network in early 2008, the Quad Cities first Honor Flight made the daylong trip for the first time that November.
Since then, the all-volunteer organization has fundraised, organized and sent off a total of 66 Honor Flights. Initially, the local flights were available for veterans of World War II and veterans with special circumstances.
But over the years the local organization has extended the honor and tribute to veterans of Korea and Vietnam. In February, the chapter expanded eligibility again inviting any veteran who served before December 1990 to receive the complimentary flight.
Veterans, volunteers needed
According to Mr. Garrington, the hub continues to welcome contribution and donations of cash to help financially support its mission of providing these flights in recognition of the military men and women’s service.
But, he added, “We are now focusing on finding veterans who have not gone on a flight so that we may honor them.”
Any area veteran who has not flown on an Honor Flight is encouraged to fill out an application here to be added to the waiting list. Veterans must submit a copy of their military DD-214, DD-256, or NGB-22 documents. On the website, choose “Veteran Application” near the bottom of the page, download and complete the form, and mail it to the address listed.
Honor Flight also is recruiting for more volunteers to participate as flight guardians and escort the veterans. Volunteers with medical experience are strongly encouraged to register “for what will be an unforgettable day with a veteran,” Mr. Garrington said.
The latest QCHF trip — its 66th flight — was held June 1, departing from its host airport, the Quad Cities International Airport in Moline.
Mr. Garrington said the last scheduled 2026 flight will be Tuesday, Sept. 22, and is nearly full. The chapter is planning at least three Honor Flights in 2027.
