A new fundraiser to benefit the Greater Peoria Honor Flight will be held Saturday, Nov. 7 in Canton, organizers announced.
Spoon River Valley Unit 427 of the Police Benevolent & Protective Association (PBPA) of Illinois and the Liberty & Loyalty Circle of West Central Illinois are hosting "A Night for Honor" at 1909 Central, a venue at 900 E. Locust Street in Canton, according to the groups' news release.
Tickets for the inaugural event are $50 per person or $500 for a reserved table. A ribeye steak dinner will be served, and a cash bar will be available.
The featured speaker will be Brigadier General Steven B. Rice, Assistant Adjutant General of the Illinois Air National Guard.
"Raising money so aging veterans can be flown to visit memorials that honor their service is one way that we can all show our appreciation for their sacrifice and dedication," said PBPA Unit 427 President Donald "Ike" Hackett. "Join us on November 7 to benefit these living heroes."
How to reserve tickets
Tickets may be reserved by contacting Kris Dare at kdare1970@gmail.com or Lee Hackett at nhfarming@aol.com.
About the Honor Flight
The Greater Peoria Honor Flight flies Central Illinois veterans to Washington, D.C., to visit the memorials built in their honor at no cost to the veterans. According to the organization's website, it is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit with no paid staff, funded by donations, and has flown dozens of veterans on each of its trips. The organization returned from its 40th flight in September, according to area media reports.
About the groups
According to the release, the PBPA of Illinois was founded in 1936 and is the largest downstate police association made up only of full-time and retired sworn police officers, with 189 local units. The group describes itself on its website as Illinois' top police association, headquartered in Springfield.
The release says Spoon River Valley Unit 427 includes members from law enforcement agencies in Cass, Fulton, Knox, Mason, McDonough, McLean, Menard, Peoria, Schuyler, Tazewell, Warren and Woodford counties.
Brig. Gen. Rice, a Morrison native, was promoted to brigadier general in February at the 182nd Airlift Wing in Peoria, according to the Illinois National Guard. He oversees plans and programs for nearly 3,000 Illinois Air National Guard personnel.