Help welcome vets home

COEUR d'ALENE - Organizers of the Inland Northwest Honor Flight are encouraging citizens to come to the Spokane International Airport Thursday to welcome honor flight soldiers home.

The Inland Northwest Honor Flight takes veterans on a tour of Washington, D.C., for free. The majority of the veterans have served in World War II.

On this particular flight, organizer Deni Ellis said, 87 veterans from both WWII and the Korean War will be on the flight. There will also be three terminally ill Vietnam veterans.

"Any terminally ill veteran who served in a recognized war will always be moved to the top of the waiting list," she said, adding all veterans who have served in a war to apply for the next honor flight, which will be held in September.

Next week's flight will depart on Wednesday morning and return to Spokane International Airport around 6:50 p.m. on Thursday. Those wishing to attend the homecoming event are encouraged to get there about 20 minutes early.

"The last couple years we have had big crowds show up," Ellis said.