"I loved it. It was just something very special," Courbat said. "We were all just like family." Many recalled now-departed veteran friends who would have enjoyed the trip. "I think of my own husband (Dale). He would have enjoyed it," Courbat said. "It was an honor for someone to think of the World War II vets. We were treated just like kings and queens that day. I look back at my (photo) book; I really have relived the trip many times.

"I am so proud Waterloo has it" now, Courbat said. "It was a job to go down to Cedar Rapids."

About half the veterans on the inaugural Cedar Rapids Honor Flight last June were from the Cedar Valley. That prompted White and Eastern Iowa Honor Flight officials to consider Waterloo-originated flights.

About $250,000 has been raised for the Waterloo flights, White said. Among major contributions was a $100,000 donation made by local business owners Burk "Skeet" and Julie Miehe, of American Pattern & CNC Works in honor of their fathers. White said an anonymous individual wanting only to be known as "Santa Claus" gave $50,000. Hy-Vee, veterans posts and Waterloo Regional Airport also are major contributors or supporters. Numerous individual and larger scale fundraising events also have been held. Many young people and youth organizations have been involved.