Community News
Will Tackaberry explains Honor Flights to Rotary
Each flight costs $75,000
On February 21, Will Tackaberry from the Litchfield Rotary came down and spoke to the the Benld Area Rotary about the Land of Lincoln Honor Flights for veterans. It was a regular scheduled luncheon as the retired military serviceman delighted the Rotarians.
Tackaberry began his 37 year military career in the Navy in 1948 and he retired from the Air Force in 1985. He serves as a radar specialist in the Navy, and as a combat air crewman and a full-time technician with the Missouri Air National Guard.
He now works as a volunteer for several organizations and assists veterans in the Litchfield, IL area. He is on the Board of Directors for the Area Agency on Aging and a delegate for the Veterans Assistance Commission, as well as the coordinator in Montgomery County for the Land of Lincoln Honor Flights.
“We watched the Russian submarines,” Will explained, “They were cracking all of our ships and we let them know we knew they were there. They weren’t invisible!” Right now, Will is working on a website where heroic stories of United State Military Veterans are featured. You can access the site by clicking here.
The site features the Veteran’s stories. The stories come from World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War while pictures are featured of the war service and any other awards or medals that the veteran wants. “It is a really interesting program,” Will noted, “We will be going on PBS in a couple weeks and be filmed as Illinois Stories.”
According to Will, most of the veterans do not like telling their story or opening up to anyone. It is different with the site though. He went on to say that the veterans feel more open in describing what they experienced and their stories. “They look great on the site.”
About four years ago, a hub was formed around our whole area for Honor Flights. “The purpose of the Honor Flight is to give our World War II Veterans a trip to go to Washington to see the monument,” Will explained, “Most of the guys have never seen the dedication, but we give them the chance to see the memorial along with the Korean War and all the other memorials in Washington D.C.”
The veterans do not pay a penny as it cost the program $400 per veteran to experience the trip. The guardians, which go with the veteran are never an arm’s length away from them, have to pay the $400 to go with the veteran after the undergo an application process. The guardian has to undergo training to go on the flight, so they know how to “take first class care of the veterans.” The veterans are getting old and have to have constant care. Oxygen tanks and wheelchairs are always needed as a nurse goes on every flight.
The day starts out at 5:30 in the morning when the flight takes off from Capitol Airport in Springfield. They fly directly to Washington and the tour buses are there waiting for them. All the meals, refreshments, tours, and flights are free. The tour buses take them to all the different memorials throughout the day and if it is raining, they go to the space museum.
The first stop in Washington is usually the World War II memorial and then they move to the Korean War memorial. Finally, they go the Vietnam memorial. “The funds come from organizations that raise money for us,” Will explained, “It cost us $75,000 to take one flight up there. Sixty to seventy veterans are present along with sixty to seventy guardians.” A lot of the veteran organizations donate too, according to Tackaberry.
The big event is coming home as the trip is just a one day trip. About halfway back on the aircraft, each veteran is handed a “mail call.” Schools send letters and grandchildren send the veterans letters. All the letters are kept in Springfield and sorted into bags for each veteran. The bags of mail are handed out to the veteran halfway home so they can read through them before landing in Springfield.
“The other highlight is the arrival in Springfield Capitol Airport,” Will noted, “They get one heck of a reception.” Military color-guards, bands, school children, and family are waiting for the veterans to enter the airport. They make one big aisle for the veterans to walk through. “The reception is outstanding,” Will went on to say, “Most of these veterans did not get a good homecoming.” Some of the fellows that were in WWII hardly got a parade or anything, so this makes up for what they missed out on.
Will is looking forward to when they start taking the Vietnam veterans and seeing their arrival home. He went on to say they are taking all the WWII veterans first, then the Korean veterans, and finally the Vietnam veterans. “The Vietnam veterans should go this summer,” Will explained, “They never got a welcome home and we will see that they get a good welcome home.”
The Honor Flight is going to start taking Korean veterans in May of 2012 and the Vietnam veterans should go this summer. The flight in April is all World War II veterans.
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SPRINGFIELD — Lincoln Land Community College has announced its full-time and part-time President’s and Vice President’s lists for the spring 2025 semester. Part-time students are enrolled in six to 11 credit hours while full-time students are enrolled in 12 or more credit hours.
Students who earned a 4.0 grade point average (GPA) are noted with an asterisk and earned President’s list honors. Students who earned between a GPA of 3.5-3.99 earned Vice President’s list honors. The excerpt below features Macoupin County students.
FULL-TIME STUDENTS
Bunker Hill – Logan R. Helling
Carlinville – Reid P. Evans*, Brody M. Reif
Gillespie – Maris E. Brill, Austin L. Grace*
Girard – Max Allen*, Katie Angulo*, Mick B. Downs*, Josh Hagerman, Reed Lewis, Michael S. Prose*
Mount Olive – Jakobb E. Brown*, Georgia G. Kampwerth
Palmyra – Alexis R. Bowman*
Staunton – Paige N. Horstmeyer*, Michael J. Matesa*, Lauren R. Mathis, Brandon Mo
Virden – Zorah E. Austin*, Michaeh N. Barnhouse*, Maddie Carver, Jackson R. Pierce*, Morgan C. Snell*, Grant M. Strickler, Courtney N. Ulinski*
PART-TIME STUDENTS
Benld – Christopher Young*
Carlinville – Alex C. Nance*, Jerry D. Nance Jr.*
Gillespie – Jessica L. Tiek*
Girard – Lindsey J. Ferguson*, Jackson R. Henke*, Natalie Moriconi*
Mount Olive – Kara A. Harmon*, Justin D. O’Neill*, Hayden Wylder*
Virden – Candace L. Carlile*, Lillian M. Carlile*, Natalie M. Little*, Josie P. Patterson, Luciano Pierce*
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The 2:18 Missions Team, a dedicated local outreach group based in Gillespie, is excited to announce its upcoming cookout fundraiser to support its community initiatives. The event will take place on Saturday, June 21st, at Randy’s Market in Benld.
From approximately 9:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., community members are invited to enjoy delicious homemade food while supporting a worthy cause. The menu will feature pork chops, pork burgers, hot dogs, and refreshing water — perfect for a summer day of good food and fellowship.
“All proceeds from this event will go directly toward our mission efforts to serve and uplift our community,” said a spokesperson for 2:18 Missions Team. “We’re grateful for the support of our neighbors and look forward to seeing everyone there!”
Come out to Randy’s Market in Benld on June 21st to enjoy a tasty meal, support local endeavors, and connect with others in the community.
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CARLINVILLE, IL – On June 14th, concerned citizens are invited to join a coalition of grassroots organizations to nonviolently protest in front of the Macoupin County Courthouse at 201 E. Main St. in Carlinville, IL, from 2:00pm – 4:00pm. This protest is one of over 1,400 protests taking place nationwide with millions of participants as part of the NO KINGS National Day of Action and mass mobilization in response to the increasing authoritarian excesses and corruption of the Trump administration.
Trump’s unconstitutional actions include suppressing free speech, detaining people for their political positions, deporting American citizens, defying the courts, and much more – all while enriching himself and his billionaire allies.
“Now Donald Trump is planning a military parade in Washington, D.C. on June 14th. This display of might is intended to intimidate opponents and solidify his image as a strongman, while paying for it with taxpayer dollars.”, said Kelley Hatlee, a volunteer organizer with the Macoupin County 50501and Indivisible movements. “Instead of allowing this military parade to be the center of attention, the NO KINGS nationwide protests make action everywhere else the story of America on June 14th: people coming together in communities across the country to reject strongman politics and corruption.”, said Hatlee.
“We’re showing up together as neighbors, friends, and fellow community members to say NO to authoritarianism and yes to a government that serves everyone,” said Chelsa Pruden, a volunteer organizer with Macoupin PRIDE and Macoupin County 50501 and Indivisible. “We’re tired of watching powerful people trample our rights and our voices. This protest is about reminding everyone, especially those in power, that real strength comes from the people.”
Participants are encouraged to make protest signs that convey their personal messages. Packaged, nonperishable food items will be accepted for donation to local food pantries to help low-income families who will be hit hardest by Trump’s policies.
The NO KINGS protest in Carlinville is organized by a volunteer coalition of the Macoupin PRIDE and the Macoupin County 50501 and Indivisible grassroots movements. The coalition has created a Facebook page titled “Macoupin County 50501 and Indivisible” for concerned citizens to follow.
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