The group is taking the lead from a Sedalia area program called "Show Me" Honor Flight that's already sent more than 70 veterans to Washington, D.C.

KOMU 8's Sarah Hill followed the Sedalia group to the nation's capitol.

Sarah tells us how one world war two veteran found comfort at the Vietnam wall who says, "We didn't have the luxury of tears. We didn't have the luxury of grieving. Thank God for our veterans so we can be free."

The rustle of fall, the click of the old guard, rare exceptions to the silence at the tomb of the unknowns. The military interred remains in this tomb and plaza from world war one, world war two, the Vietnam and Korean wars.

On this day, mid-Missouri veterans stopped to wonder, where are their friends?

"We all understood we could die and probably would before we went home," said Jim Gaertner, a vietnam veteran. "You can see they're looking."

At the vietnam memorial three soldiers reflect.

"Look at the looks on their faces, it's been suggested that they are looking. They are looking for their own names on the wall," said Gaertner.

Granite walls in the shape of a "V" list the names of more than 58,000 people killed or missing in action.

"Mike Waters died a slow terrible death," said Gaertner.

Gaertner of Sedalia stopped to reach for an old friend.

"He was close to going home. I thought he would be one of the ones that did," said Gaertner. "I wasn't sure that I was going to make it. But I thought that he'd go home. And, he didn't."

Milton Dale of Sedalia survived world war two and seven major battles, only to have his son die in the Vietnam war.

"A helicopter exploded. And Jimmy and his pilot were getting ready to take off and they fueled the plane," said Dale. "And this vietnam cong boy put a live grenade down the gas tank. "

Milton and his daughter brought a family photo.

"Three generations of Dale."

Dale also brought a bible, a teddy bear, and a fishing lure Milton's son made for him at the age of seven.

"He made me three fishing lures," said Dale.

"And this is the one I caught a fish on. So I wanted to leave it here for him so he would get it," said Dale.

"This is their monument. It's a monument to them," said Milton's daughter, Mary Margaret Dale. "It's from their war. It's theirs. Of course, I never thought I'd have the chance to see it but but we had this opportunity to come today so I took it."

It was an opportunity from the honor flight. The group takes donations to fly veterans and their guardians to see their memorials. At 86 years, Dale says he wouldn't have been able to go had it not been for the Honor Flight.

"I can't believe that I'm really here," Milton Dale said.

After more than thirty years this father got the chance to touch his son one last time.

"It seems like I'm close to him here. I feel better about it now," Milton said.

In all, the veterans visited five memorials in the nation's capitol.

We have a list of veterans right here in mid-Missouri who would like to see their memorials, but due to fixed incomes and other factors, simply cannot afford it.

If you know of a world war two veteran who would like to apply for the new Central Missouri Honor Flight, you can find an application on our website at KOMU.com

You can also pick up a hard copy application at the KOMU TV-8 studios.

The only way to get these men and women to Washington D.C. is with donations.

If you'd like to adopt a veteran for 250 dollars or give whatever you're able to, you can mail your donations to the TV station in care of the Central Missouri Honor Flight.

The Central Missouri Honor Flight will give priority to terminally ill and aging world war two veterans. But veterans of other wars can also apply.

If you know a veteran, if you want to help this new honor flight hub, please visit KOMU.com.