October 1, 2026 | News & Press Releases
WEST DES MOINES, Iowa (Oct. 1, 2026) — The Hy-Vee Central Iowa Honor Flight is taking 72 local veterans to Washington, D.C. next week, and members of the public are invited to show their support and appreciation for these heroes during two different events.
On Tuesday, Oct. 6 from 5 to 5:45 p.m., the public is encouraged to line 60th Street in West Des Moines between Ashworth Road and Westown Parkway, to cheer for the veterans as they receive a police escort to a special pre-flight dinner. Attendees are encouraged to wear red, white and blue.
The following day, on Wednesday, Oct. 7, the public is invited to a special welcome home celebration as the veterans return from Washington, D.C. Starting at 8 p.m., the public can park at the Fleur Hy-Vee, located at 4605 Fleur Drive in Des Moines, and board a free shuttle to the Endeavor Air Hangar, where the veterans are expected to disembark from the Honor Flight plane around 9:30 p.m. The celebration will include a DJ and on-site food truck, as well as free cookies and hot chocolate. Attendees are encouraged to wear red, white and blue. Please do not go inside the Des Moines International airport terminal.
PLEASE NOTE THAT THE MEDIA WILL HAVE SPECIAL PARKING AT THE ENDEAVOR AIR HANGAR; HOWEVER, THE GENERAL PUBLIC MUST PARK AT THE FLEUR HY-VEE STORE.
The Hy-Vee Central Iowa Honor Flight will fly veterans to the nation’s capital to visit Arlington National Cemetery and several military monuments before returning to Des Moines that same evening. The Hy-Vee Central Iowa Honor Flight is the first Honor Flight out of Des Moines since 2019 and is provided at no cost to the veterans. Central Iowa currently does not have an Honor Flight Network Hub, which has left some veterans in Dallas, Madison, Polk and Warren counties, on a waiting list for years. Hy-Vee is partnering with the Honor Flight Network and The Honor Flight of the Quad Cities Hub to prioritize these veterans and bring them on this trip to honor their service.
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Hy-Vee, Inc. is an employee-owned corporation operating more than 540 business units across nine Midwestern states with sales of more than $14 billion annually. The supermarket chain is synonymous with quality, variety, convenience, healthy lifestyles, culinary expertise and superior customer service. Hy-Vee was recently named one of the top grocery stores in America by USA TODAY. The company’s more than 70,000 employees provide “A Helpful Smile in Every Aisle” to customers every day. For additional information, visit www.hy-vee.com.