Signs of Honor

By Naperville Magazine
Appears in the April 2021 issue.

While the pandemic temporarily stopped Honor Flight Chicago’s trips to Washington, D.C., it hasn’t prevented the nonprofit from continuing its mission. Volunteers have been making sure the 2,700-plus veterans on its Day of Honor wait list—like Wayne Kipper, a Vietnam veteran from Lisle (shown with wife Rae)—are honored in a safe manner.

“We wanted to reach out and let every single veteran on our wait list know that we were thinking of them,” says codirector Doug Meffley. Volunteers have hand-delivered thousands of yard signs and window decals
to recognize area veterans while they wait. This simple gesture is deeply meaningful to veterans and their families, and has now expanded to include Honor Flight Chicago alumni.

Photos courtesy Honor Flight Chicago