News : Lions raise funds for Honor Flight with chili supper

Lions Mike Barron and Dr. Alan Woodhouse serve Honor Flight veteran David Schirm at chili supper.

Lions Jeff Peterson and Julie Zimmer presented $500 to Honor Flight rep Roger Uthoff.

It is fitting that one of the first few customers at the Vinton Lions Club chili supper Thursday evening was David Schirm of Vinton.

Schirm, a World War II veteran, wore a red shirt and white cap to the Vinton Fire Station for the event. They were the same shirt and cap he wore in September when he was one of 100 veterans from eastern Iowa to fly to Washington, D.C., to see the WW Memorial.

Farmers Savings Bank and Trust donated $500 to the organization for the Honor flights. Donations were made to cover the costs of the dinner, and those who ate had a chance to make donation as well. Many businesses and individuals donated table service items and desserts, keeping the actual expenses to a minimum.

Roger Uthoff, a Vinton Legion member and the finance officer of the Eastern Iowa Honor Flight, said the organization plans four Honor Flights in 2011. The first one will be in the spring, but a date has not yet been announced.

"We want to do two from the Waterloo and two from Cedar Rapids," said Uthoff.

About 400 WWII veterans have signed up for day-long trip, which is offered to them at no cost. Each flight can accommodate approximately 100 veterans.