Rob Callahan

Rob Callahan of Poplar Bluff has a mission: take as many World War II veterans from Southeast Missouri and nearby states to Washington, D.C., as possible -- and as often as donations allow.

Callahan has taken seven groups of 30 veterans each to see the World War II Memorial and other sites in the nation's capital. Each trip costs $25,000. The next trip is scheduled for October. Callahan gets help from his wife Donna and from Tucker Davis, a vice president of the bank where Callahan works.

For his work with the Honor Tours, for his community services, for his patriotism and for his family's long history of military service dating back to the Civil War, Callahan received the Southeast Missourian's Spirit of America Award Sunday during Fourth of July festivities at Arena Park.

So far, Callahan has arranged seven Honor Tours. He has a waiting list of veterans who would like to go on an Honor Tour. That list has enough names for five tours. The tours receive generous support for air travel and other expenses, but money raised from donations from civic groups, businesses and individuals make the tours financially possible.

Congratulations to Rob Callahan and everyone involved with the Honor Tours.