EASLEY — Mountain View Auctioneers is teaming up with the American Legion and the Pickens County Sheriff’s Office to hold an auction supporting American veterans through Honor Flight, which flies World War II veterans to Washington, DC for a day.

“We are losing our World War II veterans at a rate of nearly 1,500 a day,” said David Watson, owner of the Mountain View Auctioneers. “If we don’t do this now, we won’t have a chance to.”

Honor Flight is a national program and that is run locally by volunteers who want to thank World War II veterans. The program flies local vets to Washington, DC to tour the World War II Memorial, Arlington Cemetery, and other war memorials, built in their honor.

“This is a way for the community to band together and say thank you,” said Tim Morgan, Pickens County Assistant Sheriff.

Richard Reece, who is a member of Post 11 of the American Legion is helping to organize the effort. When asked if the veterans would be flying a B-29 to Washington and jumping out with parachutes, Reece responded, the vets and community members will travel in a comfortable jet that will hold about 140.

Donations and money raised from the auction stays in the community. While Pickens County partners with nearby counties for the actual flight to Washington each county does its own fundraising and that money benefits local vets.

“The auction will be on the fourth Saturday of July,” Watson said. “We are accepting donations now.”

The auction will likely consist largely of World War II memorabilia, but will also feature everyday items and even some services such as house cleanings. Donations for the auction and certificates of service are being collected by the Sheriff’s Office in Pickens located at 216 LEC Road. If you need something picked up that you want to give for the auction, call Reece at 878-1014.

Money raised at the auction will help support the next flight to Washington which will take place on September 9, 2009.

“Everything is going to the cause,” said Watson. “Everyone is donating their time and effort.”

There are many other ways to help the Honor Flight cause. Honor Flight buttons can be purchased for $1, and monetary donations in any amount are accepted and are tax deductible.

“The entire trip costs around $60,000, so that is our goal,” Morgan said. “There is really any number of ways to fundraise.”

The cost of a single veteran to attend is $500, and the cost of a guardian is $300. A guardian accompanies the veterans and is responsible for their well-being while in Washington. Guardians pay their own way and are generally responsible for two to three veterans apiece.

“This is a difficult time to ask for donations, but if we wait until the economy improves, there may not be many veterans left,” said Morgan. “Time really is of the essence.”

If someone cannot donate, there are other ways to help. Simply spreading the news about Honor Flight to veterans and family members is helpful, as Honor Flight wants to be able to send as many veterans as possible to Washington DC. Another crucial way is by going to the airport to greet the veterans on Sept. 9 when they return from their trip.

For more information about the auction, the next flight and donations, call Watson at 505-2221 or Morgan at 898-5501. The Honor Flight website is www.HonorFlightUpstatesc.com.

Alex Saitta contributed to this article.