PEORIA, Ill. — The ongoing coronavirus scare has caused the Greater Peoria Honor Flight to postpone its April and May voyages.
April 28 and May 28 trips to Washington, D.C. had been scheduled.
But, as Honor Flight VP Phyllis Piraino told WMBD News, she and her board of directors did not want to put the immune systems of the veterans at risk.
“Honor flight trips include constant handshakes and hugs by appreciative Americans throughout the day and evening,” she said.
“The valuable cargo we carry on these flights, the veterans, guardians, and volunteer team, is our first priority.”
Piraino said as difficult a decision as it was for her and the board to make, the veterans affected by the decision were not brought down by the news.
“Each of them were very understanding and in agreement with our decision,” she said.
The organization has added Sept. 24 and Oct. 13 makeup flights, and a flight previously scheduled for Sept. 8 was still a go.
