An already most memorable day for some 70-plus military veterans and their sponsors got more memorable upon landing in Washington, D.C.

Our first Greater Peoria Honor Flight of the year is today, flying our WWII, Korean and Vietnam veterans to see their war memorials in the nation’s Capital, free of charge for their service to our country. The plane taking the group encountered some weather upon descent, and a wing was struck by lightning, per HOI 19 and WEEK 25 news reports and this PJ Star report.

The plane landed without incident and all aboard are fine and continued on their epic day. But the plane didn’t fare so well, It had a hole in the wing, forcing our group to return on another plane.

Welcome back our heroes to PIA tonight if you can. Park at nearby CEFCU and use the free shuttles ideally. The plane should land around 9:30p and the veterans should be in the terminal around 10 pm. I, along with WEEK 25’s Josh Simon, were allowed on the inaugural Honor Flight in June of 2013. It was one of the highlights of my 30+ year broadcasting career, especially the joyful scene at the Peoria airport afterward.

Doc Watson