Local veterans groups seek donations, veterans for new Honor Flights

By JOHN JENSEN/editor@cedarvalleydailytimes.com

Published:

Thursday, March 11, 2010 2:06 PM CST

    VINTON — Last fall, three Vinton World War II veterans had the chance of a lifetime to fly to Washington, D.C. and view memorials honoring their sacrifice.

    Now even more will have that chance.

    Plans are currently underway for the first North Central Iowa Honor Flight, which will take about 120 veterans on that same trip. North Central Iowa Honor Flight serves veterans in Benton, Linn, Blackhawk, Tama, Iowa, Buchanan, Jones and Bremer counties and fly out of the Eastern Iowa Airport in Cedar Rapids.

    The first flight is scheduled to take to the air in late May or early June, or “as soon as we’re able to get enough money to get it all organized,” Benton County American Legion Commander Roger Uthoff said.

    It costs about $75,000 and $100,000 for each flight. The flights are free to veterans, and corporate sponsors such as Rockwell Collins and Casey’s help make them possible. The Honor Flight group was put together by the Marion American Legion post, though it is independent of other veteran’s organizations, though Uthoff said the organizations have helped connect veterans with Honor Flights.

    The hope is to fly two or three Honor Flights from Cedar Rapids this year.

    Honor flights are single-day round-trips to Washington. Veterans will depart early in the day and return late that same day. In between they’ll have the chance to visit the memorials dedicated to their service.

    “They’ll see World War II, Korean, Vietnam, the Changing of the Guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier; the ped-mall is essentially where it’s at,” Uthoff said.

    The main focus of the flights is currently World War II veterans, though Uthoff said veterans of other wars are also invited to apply.

    “As soon as the World War II veterans have been exhausted, we will move on to Korean, Vietnam Veterans, Gulf War Veterans ...,” he said.

    Uthoff added that veterans who are not expected to live more than a year, according to their doctors, are moved to the top of the list.

    Joining the veterans will be a number of guardians, whose job is to take care of the veterans. Guardians pay $500 each to participate.

    “If a veteran is on a walker or a cane, they’re put in a wheelchair and the ratio of veterans to guardians is 1-to-1 in that case,” Uthoff said. “If they are ambulatory, we have one guardian to three veterans who are able walk around.”

    Those interested in applying to take an honor flight, apply to be a guardian or helper, or wishing to donate to the organization should either contact Uthoff at 319-361-4025 or go to the organization’s Web site at www.ncihonorflight.org.

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