CHICAGO (AP) — An organization that takes World War II veterans to Washington D.C. free of charge to visit the memorial built in their honor is opening its “honor flights” to Korean War veterans.

(Credit: Rob Hill)
(Credit: Rob Hill)

Honor Flight Chicago has flown nearly 6,000 veterans to Washington over the past eight years.

Mary Pettinato is the group’s co-founder and CEO. She says as Korean War veterans reach their mid-80s, “it is time to pay tribute to the service and sacrifice of these heroes.”

The 2016 schedule includes seven flights to Washington, beginning in April.
Veterans will visit the National World War II, Korean War and other memorials.

The group says there are about 35,000 Korean War veterans living in the Chicago area. Almost 1,200 already have applied to take one of the flights.