MAYSVILLE, Mo. — Thousands of World War II veterans never had the chance to honor their fallen brothers.

By the time the National World War II Memorial was completed in 2004, they were already gone.

But for the ones who are left, the trip to Washington, D.C. just got a little easier, thanks to Maysville’s 2nd Annual Old Fashioned Community Picnic at the Pony Express RV Campgrounds.

Event organizer Edie Lowry said the crowd had raised more than $1,400 on Sunday for Honor Flight — an organization that gives veterans free trips to visit their memorial in Washington.

“They didn’t have a memorial until 2004, and most of them, either for health or financial reasons, couldn’t go when it opened,” said Jim Tayon of Franklin County Honor Flight in Union, Mo.

The Honor Flight Network is a group of regional organizations that help veterans from the surrounding area. Northwest Missouri does not have a chapter, but a soldier from the area still can take a trip if they fill out an application. All they must do is secure transportation to meet the group at the airport, then Honor Flight takes care of all other costs.

The Franklin County group has flown 147 veterans to Washington since November of 2007. The group welcomes soldiers from other wars as well.

“World War II vets have priority,” Mr. Tayon said. “But if they have a life-threatening illness, they go straight to the head of the line, no matter how young they are or what war they fought in.”

Mr. Tayon said his group had taken in about $100,000 in its brief history in donations. With events such as the one in Maysville, the number could grow quickly.

Ms. Lowry had the idea for a picnic shortly after she moved to Maysville from St. Joseph two years ago. The 2007 event drew about 300 people. The first event was popular enough that she thought she could turn it into a fundraiser. She contacted Mr. Tayon and the idea took root.

On Sunday, all of the good seats in the shade were taken long before dinner was served. Live music rolled down the hill to the campground’s two lakes, where kids took part in a fishing tournament.

“We want it to keep getting bigger every year,” Ms. Lowry said. “Every day when I was planning, I thought of two new things I wanted to add to it.”

For more information on Honor Flight, including how to donate or submit an application for a trip, visit www.franklincountyhonorflight.org or www.honorflight.org.

Business reporter Clinton Thomas can be reached at clintonthomas@npgco.com.