For the 45th time, a group of veterans will fly to Washington DC to see the military monuments dedicated to them. Plans were announced Wednesday morning for the next Honor Flight from the Quad Cities, on August 30th.
The local Honor Flight director, Steve Garrington, says this will be the 10th time Hy-Vee stores in the Quad Cities and Clinton have sponsored an Honor Flight. They presented him with a check for 50,000 dollars.
Most of the veterans making the trip will be from the Vietnam War, but he expects at least a few who served during World War II and Korea.
Garrington says one of the key parts of each Honor Flight is the welcome home, when the veterans arrive at the Quad City Airport and are greeted by hundreds of local residents.
"It's a very emotional time for the veterans. We have many tears, especially from the Vietnam veterans who were not welcomed home when they they came home the first time. It's a grand time for them."
Registrations are now being accepted for veterans, and also for volunteer "guardians" who help those with wheelchairs make the trip.
Garrington says one more Honor Flight from the Quad Cities is being planned for late October, and four flights are planned for next year.
