A photo of the Honor Flight benefit attendees. The 2024 benefit will be held on Saturday, June 15. The proceeds will go to sending veterans to Washington, D.C. [Acquired photo]

The 15th annual Honor Flight Benefit will return to Bishop Hill on Saturday, June 15, 2024, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Bishop Hill Colony School.

A special tribute for Linda Spring will be part of the benefit. Spring was the driving force behind the Honor Flight for its first 14 years, and along with the Bishop Hill community, her efforts helped raise over $600,000 for veterans to make the trip to Washington D.C.

Committee members have planned a jam-packed Bishop High Honor Flight week leading up to the day of the benefit. Among the establishments offering special meals and drinks are:

-H.WYATT will be open on Friday, June 14 with a special pay-what-you-can treat. They will also match donations up to $300.

-Krans Cafe will offer a pay-what-you-can Honor Flight Scoop on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, June 14, 15 and 16. They will also match donations up to $300.

-The Colony Inn will have Trivia Night on Friday, June 14th at 6:30 p.m. All proceeds will go to Bishop Hill Honor Flight.

-The Filling Station will have a pay-what-you-can Honor Flight Breakfast Buffet on Saturday, June 15 from 7-10 a.m.

On Saturday, the Bishop Hill Honor Flight Benefit begins at 11 a.m. with a pulled pork lunch at the Colony School located at 405 West Main Street. Lunch will be by free-will donation.

Bluegrass music will be provided by the popular band, Tap Root Wranglers.

Tap Root Wranglers will perform during the Honor Flight benefit. [Acquired photo]

A live auction and a raffle will start at 3 p.m. with Travis Spivey returning as the auctioneer. A 50/50 drawing will be announced every hour in honor of Spring throughout the event.

The Flight offers area veterans a free trip to Washington, D.C. to visit the memorials. Priority is given to survivors of World War II, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, and any veteran with a terminal illness. Honor Flight Quad Cities depends on donations from organizations and individuals to make the flight possible.

Honor Flight veterans during their trip to Washington, D.C. [Acquired photo]

The Honor Flight committee would appreciate monetary donations and is asking for items for the raffle and live auction.

If anyone wishes to donate, volunteer or needs more information about the benefit, contact Cathy Nelson at (803) 351-2486 or Marcy Strand at (309) 525-3053.

Auction and raffle items can be dropped off at the Prairie Arts Center in Bishop Hill or the Galva Pharmacy. Monetary donations can be mailed to Cathy Nelson/H.Wyatt, P.O. Box 210, Bishop Hill, IL., 61419.

All proceeds from the day’s events will be donated to Honor Flight of the Quad Cities. The Bishop Hill Honor Flight Committee is organizing the benefit.