Hy‑Vee is organizing the first Honor Flight out of Des Moines since 2019, taking about 70 Iowa veterans to Washington, D.C., later this year so they can see their respective war memorials.
The Hy‑Vee Central Iowa Honor Flight, set for Oct. 7, 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 flight will be provided at no cost to veterans who have applied and are on a waiting list to attend.
Central Iowa does not have an Honor Flight Network hub, which has led to some veterans in Dallas, Madison, Polk and Warren counties waiting for several years. Hy‑Vee is partnering with the Honor Flight Network and the Honor Flight of the Quad Cities hub to prioritize these veterans. In addition to the Des Moines flight, Hy‑Vee is also providing support for Honor Flights in Cedar Rapids, Dubuque, Peoria and the Quad Cities this year.
The Hy‑Vee Central Iowa Honor Flight is part of the Hy‑Vee Homefront program, which has donated nearly $4 million to nonprofits that serve veterans, active‑duty service members and their families since its launch in 2013. Hy‑Vee Homefront also includes the company’s annual Veterans Day Breakfast, special benefits for veteran and active‑duty service member employees, and more.
For independent grocers, supporting local veterans through programs like Honor Flights can deepen community ties in a way national chains struggle to match. Partnering with a regional Honor Flight hub or a local veterans organization does not require a large budget – small donations, collection drives or volunteer hours generate goodwill that translates into customer loyalty. Hy‑Vee’s $4 million Homefront investment sets a benchmark, but independents should remember that consistency matters more than scale. A local grocer who sponsors one veteran’s flight or hosts an annual breakfast for area veterans builds the same authentic connection that keeps shoppers returning week after week.
[RELATED: Hy-Vee Boosts Support For Veterans, Active-Duty Members For America 250]
About Hy‑Vee Inc.
Hy‑Vee is an employee‑owned corporation operating more than 560 business units across nine Midwestern states with annual sales exceeding $14 billion. The company employs more than 70,000 people and was recently named one of the top grocery stores in America by USA TODAY.