The Board of Directors and volunteers of the Eastern Iowa Honor Flight would like to take this opportunity to thank the community for their assistance in helping us complete a record year. We would also like to thank the many news organizations. Including the Vinton Today News who have covered our flights this year and in the past. In 2012 we were able to send four (4) flights of veterans and their guardians to Washington, DC. Whether you contributed money, served as a volunteer, performed at the airport welcome home, served as greeters at the airport, or just showed up with your handshakes and applause, please know that this year’s success is due in large part to you. On an even larger and more personal scale, you should know that because of your efforts, many of these veterans received the “welcome home and thank you” that many never got at the end of the war.

While it is often said that time diminishes memory, we can tell you that time has not diminished these memories and smiles of our veterans. The smiles are just as bright at 10:30 pm when we come home as they are at 5:30 am when we greet them at the airport to begin their day. To listen to them recall stories and experiences during the day, is akin to observing a living history lesson. It is the mosaic of these smaller, individual stories, that give us the bigger picture of sacrifice, service, and ultimately success.

Our priority is still to seek out and provide the trip to any World War II veteran who is able and willing to go. Unfortunately that population grows smaller by the day as time marches on. We are now accepting applications from Korean War veterans and taking them if space is available after filling the flight with the WW II veterans who have applied. Many is the time we hear from a veteran, or a veteran’s family member that they do not feel they are worthy of such an honor. We tell them, “whether you never got out of basic training, or you fought through every conflict in the Atlantic or Pacific theaters, or Korea the bottom line is that when the country called, you answered.” If you served, you earned the right to go on the flight.

We are now beginning to plan for the 2013 flight season. We are a federally recognized 503(c)1 non-profit organization of all volunteers. As such we are dependent on the support of corporations and individuals to enable us to carry out our mission. If you know a veteran who would want to go, or are interested in learning more about us or how you can become involved, please go to our website at www.eihonorflight.org for details or email us at www.easterniowahonorflight@gmail.com. Again, please accept our heartfelt thank you for your support. More importantly, the veterans who served and sacrificed when called upon thank you.

For the Board of Directors

George Rickey, Coordinator Public Relations / Media Eastern Iowa Honor Flight www.eihf.media.pr@gmail.com 319-594-0737