But those free flights for World War II veterans will resume in the spring, and Central Missouri Honor Flight is spreading its wings to help start two new honor flight hubs.

Organizers in Mid-Missouri met with community leaders in Springfield and in the Quincy-Hannibal area to try to encourage them to start their own honor flight hubs. Those conversations were successful.

Next week, Northeast Missouri will debut its Great Rivers Honor Flight hub. In Springfield, the Ozarks' chapter of honor flight will fly its first group of vets later this month.

A recent honor flight took a plane-load of World War II veterans, up well before daylight, on a special mission all about them.

This was the thank-you that was long overdue.

More than 60 years have passed since they did their duty, and time flew as they boarded a Central Missouri Honor Flight that was all about them:

"We're really rushing the clock because these folks are not in the best of health, and [they are] leaving us so frequently," said Ernie DeCamp, a volunteer for Ozarks Honor Flight.

En route to Washington, D.C., those who were part of history shared stories of personal histories. They talked about ancestors who shook hands with Abraham Lincoln and memories of the return home from war. Most had not seen a welcome like the cheers and applause they received on this trip.

The tour bus cruised past all the familiar places in the nation's capitol, but only one was all about the veterans: the World War II Memorial, honoring every state, every military branch and 16 million men and women now known as the greatest generation.

"This is the war that touched everyone," said Barb Brueggeman, president of Central MIssouri Honor Flight. "An uncle, a grandfather, a father, a relative who went...honor flight is so overwhelming for my generation."

Michelle Knaack is the daughter of a World War II veteran. She and her sister flew in from Milwaukee to see their father pose with Mid-Missouri veterans at the wall of stars.

"It's closure for our father, living with memories for many years," Knaack said.

Iwo Jima survivor Ralph Dobbs enlisted in the Marines, raised five daughters and earned five degrees for a university career. He said monuments do not teach history but help people remember it.

"It bridges the gap between what once was and what is," Dobbs said.

Honor flight does not fly in the winter months because the weather is too cold for the veterans. But honor flights will resume in the spring because there is still a waiting list. The last chance to welcome home a veteran for 2009 comes Tuesday night as the veterans will arrive home at approximately 11:15 p.m. at the Courtyard by Marriott.

Attendees are welcome to bring flags and signs, and given the reactions at previous honor flight arrivals, perhaps a tissue as well.

For information on how to apply, volunteer or a adopt a veteran for a Central MO Honor Flight, please go to www.centralmissourihonorflight.com .

Steve Grant of KY3 News in Springfield contributed to this report.