One-hundred twenty WWII veterans are counting down the hours until their flight to the nation's capital.

"I'm real excited to go on this trip; I've been looking forward to it a long time," said Bob Chaloupka, Lincoln.

The inaugural Heartland Honor Flight took place almost two months ago. And Tuesday, yet another wave of Nebraska veterans will get the chance to visit the WWII Memorial.

That's why the organizer of this project said that time is of the essence. With 800 Nebraskans on the waiting list, they need to act swiftly to make sure that as many veterans as possible get to visit our nation's capital.

With the Patriot Guard there to honor the WWII veterans on their way into Memorial Stadium, there was an unmistakable excitement in the air.

"It's gonna be neat," said Casper Menninga, Syracuse.

"Oh, I think it's wonderful. I think it's great," said Allen Headrick, Geneva.

These proud American heroes have waited more than 50 years to go back to Washington D.C.

"I was there about 60 years ago when I was in the Army for a couple of weeks, and I didn't see anything very well. This will be a lot better," said Elmer Reinsch, Lincoln.

"I wanted to be a part of it because I'm proud, I'm a veteran, I wouldn't have had another chance to go," Chaloupka said.

Chaloupka has a long list of the things he wants to see, but at the top of the list.

"I need to see the changing of the guard, real bad, I'd like to see that," he said.

On May 21, more than 100 veterans were able to see the sights in our nation's capital, and project organizer Bill Williams said it could not have gone better.

"Our first trip was a month ago, and it was flawless. Everything went perfectly -- weather wise and logistically, it was just perfect," said Bill Williams, organizer.

And that's why Williams is optimistic that this trip will go just as well as the first one.

"It's very emotional everybody who has participated in it, either as a guardian or the World War II vets. We still get phone calls, thank you notes from veterans who were on the first flight who are still basking in the glow of it all," Williams said.

With Tom Osborne on hand to meet with the veterans and with Gov. Dave Heineman wishing everyone a great trip, the stage is set for the trip of a lifetime for these great Nebraskans.

"It just means so much to them to have us make this effort to try to show our appreciation. So it's a highlight. One guy said it's the best thing to happen to him in 50 years, so it's an honor and a privilege for us to be involved in it," Williams said.

"This is an ideal trip. I'll enjoy every minute of it," Chaloupka said.

The veterans departed for Washington, D.C. Tuesday morning at 6:45. The one-day trip will include a visit to the WWII Memorial, the Arlington National Cemetery and the Iwo Jima Memorial among many other stops.

Williams said they are planning yet another trip to Washington early in September.