Bill Knapp Honor Flight to Travel to Washington D.C. on August 19
Sponsor and World War II Veteran, Bill Knapp, on the trip
Community invited to salute veteran parade on August 18
WEST DES MOINES, Iowa (Aug. 9, 2010) --
Knapp Properties, Inc. today announced details for the August 19 Bill Knapp Honor Flight that will take more than 300 World War II veterans to Washington D.C. to visit the World War II Memorial and other historic monuments.
The community is invited to show their support during an August 18 parade that will travel through Rock Island Street at the Iowa State Fairgrounds at approximately 3:50 p.m. The parade starts at 3:30 p.m. at the Airport Holiday Inn, 6111 Fleur Drive, and will conclude at approximately 4:30 p.m. at Prairie Meadows, where the veterans will gather for a send-off dinner..
“I encourage Iowans to come out along the parade route on Wednesday afternoon to send these veteran heroes off in style,” said World War II veteran Bill Knapp, Chairman Emeritus of Knapp Properties, Inc. “These veterans have waited a very long time to receive this well-deserved recognition.”
The public also is invited to Thursday morning’s departure ceremonies at the Des Moines International Airport. Veterans will begin boarding the Honor Flight plane at the Des Moines International Airport at approximately 5 a.m. for the 6:45 a.m. departure. Members of the public who would like to be on the tarmac for the departure are asked to enter the airport from Army Post Road at Gate 7 (south cargo ramp) prior to 5 a.m.
Bill Knapp made the original announcement alongside Central Iowa Honor Flight representatives during a May 2010 news conference held at Knapp Properties’ West Des Moines headquarters. During that event, Knapp committed $250,000 to Jeff Ballenger of the not-for-profit Central Iowa Honor Flight Committee to cover all expenses for the August 19 flight.
This is the only individual-sponsored Honor Flight since the trips began in Central Iowa in September 2008. The flights are provided at no cost to the veterans attending.
Knapp, 84, will accompany his fellow veterans on this one-of-a-kind trip to Washington, D.C.
“I hope this will be the trip of a lifetime for many Central Iowa-based World War II veterans – I know it is for me,” Knapp said. "Fighting for our country was one of the most important things we ever did to help assure America’s enduring freedom and liberty.”
Knapp joined the United States Navy at age 17 and served on a troop ship in the Pacific and was involved in the Battle of Okinawa. After two years in the Navy and graduating from the American Institute of Business, he founded Iowa Realty in 1952 and gradually built the company into the premier real estate company in Iowa. Knapp Properties, Inc. was formed by Knapp to continue the development and management of his real estate business.
Ballenger, of Central Iowa Honor Flight, praised Bill Knapp for his contributions to World War II and his commitment to the Honor Flight program. Ballenger noted that World War II veterans in the United States, now in their 80s and 90s, are passing away at the rate of more than 1,000 per day nationwide.
“If they are to have the opportunity to visit Washington, D.C., time is of the essence,” Ballenger said. “The veterans deserve an opportunity to visit their monument and know that people do remember and appreciate their sacrifice.”
Following the Bill Knapp Honor Flight approximately 2,000 World War II veterans from Iowa will have participated in the Honor Flight program.
###
About Knapp Properties, Inc.
Knapp Properties, Inc., founded in 1992 to manage William C. Knapp’s real estate holdings, is a team of trusted experts with over 100 years of experience acquiring, developing, financing, constructing and managing real estate in greater Des Moines, Iowa. The company offers a broad real estate portfolio coupled with a flexible continuum of services to meet customers’ needs. The company owns or manages more than 7,000 acres of real estate; and manages 2.5 million square feet of commercial property, including office, retail and warehouse space, more than 350 multi-family units and more than 10 residential townhome/condo associations.
About Central Iowa Honor Flight
The Central Iowa Honor Flight and all other flights throughout the country allow our WWII hero's to travel to Washington, D.C. to view the WWII monuments and other monuments at no cost to our veterans. This is an opportunity for our veterans, many who have never been able to travel to Washington, D.C. to view a memorial for the service and the ultimate sacrifice our WWII Veterans did to protect our country. The Honor Flight Networks believes it's important that the Veterans get to visit and experience their memorial. We need to continue this great opportunity for our Veterans because WWII Veterans are passing away at the rate of more than 1,000 per day nationwide. We want to give something back to them and show how much we appreciate all they did for us.
Click here to watch parade video: