Hy-Vee funds honor flight

COUNCIL BLUFFS —The next group of Iowa veterans going to view the National World War II Memorial in Washington, D.C., will be flying there in style.

Thanks to a donation from Hy-Vee Food Stores, the 350 vets, including some 40 from western Iowa, will travel on a Boeing 747, a much larger plane than was used for previous flights. The flight will leave Aug. 11 from Des Moines International Airport.

“We’re rolling out the ‘big bird.’ These veterans are going in style,” said organizer Jeff Ballenger of Council Bluffs.

“There will be 350 of these guys on the plane. What a great camaraderie that will be.”

This will be the third “Honor Flight” for Iowa veterans of World War II to see the memorial built in their honor.

All expenses for the trip will be paid by Hy-Vee, which presented a $250,000 check to trip organizers Wednesday at the Mall of the Bluffs store.

Hy-Vee’s gift also will fund an Aug. 10 dinner for the veterans and their guests at the Hy-Vee Conference Center in Des Moines. For veterans from western Iowa, the gift will pay for their trip to Des Moines and two nights’ lodging.

“We’re honored to serve those who served us,” said Bluffs store director Mitch Streit.

Ballenger praised Hy-Vee’s commitment. Just last week, he said, he and a Des Moines organizer got a quick response from corporate officials.

“They made up their minds in just five minutes,” Ballenger said. “Hy-Vee didn’t wait. They said that we need to do this now.”

About 700 central and western Iowa veterans are still on a waiting list for a future trip, he said.

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