Great River Honor Flight to fly second direct mission from Quincy to DC
Published 10:22 am Friday, August 7, 2026
QUINCY — Great River Honor Flight will send 17 veterans directly from Quincy to Washington, D.C., on Aug. 20 for the organization’s 83rd mission, marking the second time the nonprofit has flown a direct route from Quincy Regional Airport.
The veterans will depart Quincy aboard a Contour Airlines jet bound for Dulles International Airport. Fifteen of the veterans served during the Vietnam era, while the remaining two served in other periods between or after the conflicts of that era. Together, they represent the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, and Navy Reserves. The mission will bring the total number of veterans who have flown with Great River Honor Flight to more than 2,644 since the program’s first flight in 2010.
The veterans on this flight come from St. Charles County in Missouri; Adams, McDonough, Fulton, and Pike counties in Illinois; and Marion, Des Moines, and Lee counties in Iowa. Their service spanned a range of roles, including food service, submarine and surface ship navigation and operations, medical care, mechanics, radio operation, and infantry duty.
“Following the success of the first trip out of Quincy Regional back in May, the Honor Flight Board continues to explore new ways to handle the logistics for future missions and improve the experience for our veterans,” Carlos Fernandez, chairman of Great River Honor Flight, said in a statement.
The trip will follow the itinerary the organization has used for years while taking advantage of the extended time in Washington made possible by flying directly out of Quincy rather than connecting through another city. The day begins with a stop at John Wood’s Cafeteria before a 6 a.m. departure from Quincy Regional Airport. In Washington, veterans will visit the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, the Korean War Veterans Memorial, the World War II Memorial, the Lincoln Memorial, the Marine Corps War Memorial, and the Air Force Memorial, and will observe the Changing of the Guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery. The itinerary also includes a drive past the U.S. Capitol and down Pennsylvania Avenue, along with a stop at the U.S. Navy Memorial, before veterans return to Dulles for their flight back to Quincy.
The group is expected to arrive back at Quincy Regional Airport around 8:45 p.m., after which veterans will be bused to John Wood Community College’s basketball arena for a welcome-home ceremony.
Great River Honor Flight was established as a Missouri nonprofit corporation in October 2009 and flew its first mission in April 2010. The organization, which serves as the Tri-States’ hub of the national Honor Flight program, provides free transportation to Washington for local veterans to visit the memorials built to honor their service.
