News : WWII Veterans prepare for Honor Flight, Sept. 14

Raela Uthoff, right and Chris Kivett-Berry help vets sign in at Honor Flight orientation.

Former Independence geometry Bob Nelson and his daughter, Tammy, will fly to D.C., Sept. 14.

Honor Flight staff members applaud veteran Robert Nelson as he leaves the orientation Sept. 2.

Honor Flight Director Mike Moran (white shirt) speaks to veteran Bruce Tarbox of Cedar Rapids.

Jim Arbuckle of Vinton will accompany veteran Frances Conway of Keystone during Honor Flight.

Honor Flight staff member Mary Clapp welcomes veteran Robert Fisher to orientation.

Honor Flight staffer Peggy Dettmer laughs with vet Cliff Haverkamp as she helps him try on a shirt.

Peggy Dettmer helps C.R. veteran Clifford Haverkamp find an Honor Flight shirt his size.

James Miller of Plainsfield poses for a photo during orientation.

Eight Benton County World War II veterans will participate in the next Eastern Iowa Honor Flight on Tuesday, Sept. 14.

The eight will be taken at no cost to them to Washington, D.C., where they will spend a couple hours at the World War II Memorial. They will also see other landmark military sites, including Arlington National Cemetery, the Iwo Jima Memorial and the Korean and Vietnam memorials.

Although there are no Vinton veterans who will travel to Washington, D.C. on Sept. 14, to see the World War II memorial, some Vinton residents will be helping the veterans make the trip.

Roger and Raela Uthoff are among the many unpaid Honor Flight staff members who help organize the trip, and Jim Arbuckle of Vinton will be one of more than 60 care-givers who help the veterans during the one-day journey.

The vets will fly out from the Eastern Iowa Airport at 7 a.m. and return at 10 p.m. that same day.

The eight Benton County veterans include:

Francis Conway, Keystone

Irvin Junge, Keystone

Louis Kaiser, Van Horne

Paul Kelly, Van Horne

Melvin Krug, Atkins

Arthur Rinderknecht, Atkins

Robert Roese, Keystone

Clifford Thompson, Van Horne

The participating veterans attended an orientation in Hiawatha on Thursday. There, they received their caps and shirts which they will wear that day, along with the necessary information about the trip.

For more information, visit http://www.ncihonorflight.org/