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Special to the Daily Journal/Messenger

Pictured, from left, are: Lyn and John Morrey from the Oconee County Veterans Council, Amy Norris of the Oconee County Sheriff's Department, and county VA director Jerry Dyar.

The Oconee County Sheriff's Office and veterans organizations from around the county converged on the Hillbilly Day celebration in Mountain Rest this year, aiming to raise money to send World War II veterans to visit their Memorial in Washington, D.C.

"We thought the Hillbilly Day festival would be a great place to tell our story and raise funds for this very special project, and we had a great time spending the day with so many wonderful folks," said Lyn Morrey, spokesperson for the veteran volunteers.

The group raised over $600.

"As of right now our combined efforts have raised well over $10,000 for the Honor Flight — Upstate program,” said Oconee County Veterans Affairs Director Jerry Dyar. “We will continue with our push to raise funds for our World War II veterans through the month of July.”

Tax-deductible donations can be made to the Oconee County

Sheriff's Department or the Oconee County Veterans Affairs Office. Dyar went on to say that all checks should be made out to "Honor Flight Upstate SC."