The group that flies aging and terminally ill vets to Washington, DC to see their memorials has announced plans to fly even more vets on its waiting list on June 16.

The flights are free. In fact, Honor Flight says it doesn't accept donations from World War II veterans as it believes they already paid the ultimate price.

These veterans are treated like rock stars on each leg of the journey to DC.

"Our mission is to get these folks to the World War II memorial."

"My father's a World War II veteran, and we just lost him in February."

"Everyday we're losing them. We've got to get them there quickly."

Long before daybreak, a soldier's salute framed the moon. For the Honor Flight veterans, this is their twilight. These veterans say not since World War II have they experienced such a sendoff.

"He's 90-years old and I thank god everyday that I have him," says one veteran's wife, Marian Stegner of Boonville.

This isn't the first goodbye for Marian and Albert stegner.

"We've been together 67 years and I watched him go off to war 67 years ago, and he waved to me as far as he could see on the troop train going overseas," Stegner said. "We'd only been married six weeks and he was gone four years. I didn't see him for four years."

But this time an 18 hour trip. Stegner and 34 other aging and terminally ill World War II veterans are loading up for what could be their last chance to see their Memorial in Washington, DC.

On the back of their shirts, a Churchill quote: "Never was so much owed by so many to so few."

"What they have shown us by living their lives," Linda Klug, the daughter of a deceased World War II veteran said. "They didn't preach to us. They didn't brag or feel like they were special. They just were."

This is the second trip for Central Missouri Honor Flight.

After a guardian training, this group of about 60 boards a bus for the St. Louis airport.

Loading up 35 veterans, between 80 and 90-year olds, a dozen wheelchairs and their walkers is no vacation. Not to mention getting off 35 pairs of shoes at airport security.

On the plane these Army, Navy and Air Force veterans exchanged stories with each other and their guardians. On the horizon, another surprise.

As the plane taxied into the gate and the veterans started arriving, applause filled the jetway. Business travelers put down their Blackberries and got on their feet.

"Very emotional. I'm thankful the World War II veterans weren't treated like some of them that served after us cause they had just as much honor as we did," said World War II veteran Archilee Sapp of Ashland. "I was told from some of them that went on the first flight that it would happen. But still tears came to my eyes when it happened."

Once a veteran applies, they will get a postcard in the mail telling them their number on the waiting list. As soon as honor flight gets enough donations for a flight, it notifies the next round of veterans on the waiting list and books those tickets.

A special half-hour edition of Sarah's Stories on the Central Missouri Honor Flight will air on Tuesday, June 9th. KOMU will be broadcasting live beginning at 6:30 p.m. You can also listen to the Eagle and Clear 99 that day for information on how you can get on board with Central Missouri Honor Flight.

You can adopt a veteran for $300.  All donations can be mailed to:
Central Missouri Honor Flight - KOMUTV
5550 HWY 63 South
Columbia, MO 65201