Hy-Vee and Casey's will share the $250,000 cost of transporting 300+ veterans of World War II to Washington, DC to visit the nation's monuments honoring their military service. The Central Iowa Honor Flight organization is coordinating the trip, which is scheduled to leave Des Moines early on Tuesday, August 17th and return late the same day. Also, Knapp Development will be sponsoring an additional flight on August 18th.

The veterans busses will be parading through the Iowa State Fair on their way to Prairie Meadows Racetrack and Casino who has volunteered to sponsor the send-off dinner for the Honor Flight participants on the evening of August 16. Come out to the Iowa State Fair and show your appreciation to these veterans on their way to Washington DC.

The Central Iowa Honor Flight organization is composed entirely of volunteers. Over the last two years, the organization has raised $1.4 million and sent nearly 1,800 World War II veterans to Washington, DC.

"It's the least we can do, to sacrifice one day of our lives to say ‘thank you' for a lifetime of freedom," said Jeff Ballenger, Central Iowa Honor Flight coordinator.

Hy-Vee sponsored Honor Flights in August and November of last year and Casey's sponsored a flight in October.

For more information, visit the organization's website: www.centraliowahonorflight.org.