honor flight chicago - lagrange highlands school district...
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Honor Flight Chicago
Veterans take part in a fl ag ceremony at the WWII Memorial on May
11 as part of Honor Flight Chicago.
The oldest of the World
War II Honor Flight
veterans at 99-year-old,
Mr. Lochner plays along
with The Legacy Girls.
Three vets from Knox, Indiana
pose in front of the Lincoln
Monument.
Thanks to the combined efforts of the
schools in Lyons Township 96 World War
II veterans took part in Honor Flight Chi-
cago on May 11. Honor Flight Chicago
is a non-profi t organization that honors
America’s veterans for their sacrifi ces by
transporting these heroes to Washington,
D.C. to visit and refl ect at their memorials.
Thanks to the generosity of the schools of
Lyons Township, and with the help of lo-
cal businesses and community members,
more than $60,000 was raised to fund
one fl ight for 96 of our nation’s heroes.
Each of the servicemen and women who
participated in Honor Flight Chicago had
inspiring stories of service and sacrifi ce.
Each of them waited about one year to
participate in Honor Flight Chicago;
nearly 1,400 veterans remain on the wait-
ing list.
Chester Aszklar, a paratrooper with the
82nd Airborne who was captured and
worked on a German farm as a prisoner
of war for 19 ½ months has plans to visit
local schools to speak to students and
thank them personally for helping fund
his Honor Flight.
“It was kind of cool that schools from all
over the LT area came together for this
special cause. It was nice to be a part of
that!” said Amanda Bolton, 8th grader at
Park Junior High.
“Highlands Middle School has close to
300 in the entire student body. We were
so proud even though we are probably
the smallest of the 8 schools, we raised
over $8,200 to help get the veterans to
Washington DC,” said Diana Kafkes, 7th
grade student.
“Our students really got behind the idea
of thanking our veterans. We thought it
was important to teach them how to be
good citizens, how they can contribute
and how they can demonstrate patriotism.
I’m proud that our kids were so invested
and involved in this project,” said High-
lands Junior High Sixth Grade teacher
Christine Phillip.
The day-long Hon-
or Flight allowed
for a trip to the
World War II Me-
morial, the Lincoln
Monument, Korean
and Vietnam Me-
morials and a tour
of the Smithsonian
Air and Space
Museum. Each
veteran was paired
with a guardian, a
volunteer who ac-
companied the vet
on each leg of their
trip.
Team Efforts
Fund a FlightFunding an Honor Flight is no easy task,
but through the combined efforts of eight
schools and thousands of students, the
trip came to fruition. Restaurant and
movie nights, t-shirt sales, before school
milk and donut breakfasts, lollipops and
patriotic pins, pen and pencil sales, a
Pampered Chef party, as well as Gurrie
Middle School’s Party with a Purpose,
where each student had to raise $20 for
Honor Flight Chicago in order to attend,
all contributed proceeds to the fundrais-
ing efforts.
The LaGrange Theatre Movie Night
raised $1,200 in a single evening. “Being
a local theatre and a business that thrives
on community support, we fi nd it’s equal-
ly important to give back to the com-
munity. Honor Flight Chicago is such
a worthwhile
cause that we
were happy to
get involved,”
said John Rot of
the LaGrange
Theater. A table
was set up in
the theatre
foyer, and a
World War II
veteran, who
had been on an Honor Flight, greeted the
kids as they came in and thanked them
for supporting veterans. A DVD explain-
ing Honor Flight Chicago and its mission
was shown to movie goers as a preview.
First National Bank of LaGrange donated
more than $1,100. They immediately
pledged $500 at the LaGrange Business
Association meeting, where the Honor
Flight program as well as veterans were
introduced. The bank put out a donation
bucket, encouraging the public and bank
employees to donate, and raised another
$600. “First National Bank of LaGrange
is fortunate to be in a community where
we were
able to help
this mis-
sion! Thank
you veter-
ans for your
service to
our nation,”
said Dan
Hennebry,
presi-
dent First
National
Bank of
LaGrange.
According
to St. John
of the Cross history teacher and school
fundraising coordinator Tom Clausing,
“St. John of the Cross was the fi rst school
to say ‘yes!’ and answer the call for help!
Eager to assist their high school raise
money for our
nation’s he-
roes, St. John
held a variety
of fundraisers
from selling
red, white and
blue brace-
lets, to selling
concessions at school games and events.
One student even donated his money
from the lemonade stand he worked on
his own. We were honored to be part of
this effort!”
Tracey Rousonelos, Honor Flight Chi-
cago Ambassador, LTHS parent, and
Chair of Fundraising Effort, said, “It’s a
long way to sponsor a whole fl ight, even
for a big school like LTHS. Early on, the
focus was how to bring this great cause
to an entire community. Seven associate
schools eagerly got on board, along with
local business associations, Rotary Clubs,
churches, parents and residents. Wanting
to help these young philanthropists raise
money, the energy and excitement in our
community was infectious! This is truly
an example of how ‘it takes a village’ to
come together and make possible some-
thing great for these deserving American
Navyman Leonard Prescott admires the
NASA Shuttle Enterprise at the Air and
Space Museum.
heroes. I could not be more proud of
LTHS, of our 7 schools that worked so
hard, and our entire village that supported
all these efforts!”
Raising AwarenessEqually important
as raising funds
for Honor Flight
Chicago, teachers
and local schools
raised awareness
about being good
citizens.
St. Francis Xavier
has participated
in Honor Flight in
past years, but this
year was different.
This time there was
a community-wide
goal to sponsor an entire Honor Flight.
St Francis built a memorial to honor
veterans. Each student was given a paper
“brick” and asked to write a dedica-
tion on it to a veteran. When more than
700 bricks were returned to school, 5th
graders built a wall for all to view and
collected the donations that accompanied
the bricks. Chris Morkin, St. Francis 5th
grade Service Parent volunteer, said,
“The entire Honor Flight process, from
fundraising to the welcome home, em-
bodied and embraced us as citizens. The
Honor Flight is a rare and unique oppor-
tunity to be a part of, especially since this
generation is quickly passing.”
Park Junior High teacher Vicky Schorsch
said, “What a truly memorable experi-
ence this was for our students as well as
the vets! From the beginning when our
students had a chance to meet WWII
vets who had already been on an Honor
Flight, through our fundraising, letter-
writing, and participation in the Welcome
Home ceremony, our students gained
a greater appreciation for the men and
women who serve our country! It also
proved to be a wonderful service project
and community-building opportunity.”
Thankful Vets and VolunteersOn the fl ight back from Washington DC,
each veteran received Mail Call: the
arrival of letters from home, which was
an important part of serving overseas.
Thousands of letters were given to the
veterans, with handwritten notes from
family members, colorful pictures drawn
by elementary school students, and heart-
felt notes of thanks from well wishers
and volunteers.
“I smile at the memory of colorful bun-
dles of mail; our students’ letters to the
veterans, and the simple but thoughtful
drawings some of the younger students
created,” according to St. Cletus Board of
Education member Heather Alpe.
Perhaps the most impactful and moving
event of the day-long trip was the Wel-
come Home the veterans received upon
landing in Chicago. Hundreds of active
duty men and women dressed in full
uniform saluting and standing at full at-
tention lined the walk from the departure
gate to baggage claim. Behind them were
nearly one thousand students, parents,
friends and patriotic citizens who came
to the airport to welcome them home. A
sea of red, white and blue, with ban-
ners, balloons and American fl ags fi lled
the terminal with non-stop applause and
cheers for each veteran.
The veterans were fi lled with gratitude.
Army corporal Eddie Samuels said with
tears in his eyes, “I’m overwhelmed. I
really admire these kids and what they’ve
done for us. Thank them for me.”
Gurrie Middle School is no stranger to
Honor Flight Welcome Homes, in fact,
May 11 was the their 9th! Gurrie students
agreed that
this was,
“by far, the
most excit-
ing and
rewarding
Welcome
Home since
we started
helping
with fl ights happen,” said 7th grader
Kelsey Sheehan.
Honor Flight Chicago was as inspiration-
al for the vets as it was for the volunteers.
Lyons Township High School Principal
David Franson was among the lucky vol-
unteers. He said, “Honor Flight Chicago
was a rare privilege to thank and support
our WWII veterans. It was made particu-
larly special for the fact that it was the
entire Lyons Township community that
made this trip possible. Thanks to the en-
thusiastic and steady efforts of associate
school districts, area parochial schools,
local businesses, churches, LT’s students,
staff, and parents, 96 veterans were hon-
ored. It was a chance for all those who
participated to personally touch history.
‘Thank you’ to all of our country’s WWII
veterans!”
Help Honor
Flight Chicago
reach its goal
of send-
ing every
veteran
to Wash-
ington D.C. to see their war
memorial and our nation’s
monuments. Please consider
donating today. Log on to the
website at www.honorfl ight-
chicago.org or call
1-773-227 VETS (8377).
Active duty personnel escort the Honor Flight vets off
the plane, while others salute in recognition.
LTHS Student Council Advi-
sor and teacher Martha Elliott
said, “The veterans could not
believe the generosity, the sense
of adventure, and the love they
felt throughout the day as they
took part in the Honor Flight. In
return, I could not believe how
much each one of them touched
my heart as they spoke from
theirs.”
Coming together with our com-
munity and neighboring schools
to meet this goal was an amaz-
ing experience. It wasn’t simply
about fundraising, but more
importantly about collaboration
and community building. Our students
experienced fi rst hand the power they
have to make a difference. Their collec-
tive determination to achieve this goal
was rewarded the evening of May 11th
when they assembled together to
thank and applaud those 96 veter-
ans, Alpe said.
Ryan P. Williamson, CFP®, CCPS,
Certifi ed College Planning Special-
ist with College Horizons echoes
those comments, “What Honor
Flight Chicago does for the heroes
of our country is indescribable.
Both of my grandfathers and one of
my grandmothers served in WWII.
Unfortunately, they all passed be-
fore the completion of the Memo-
rial in Washington was completed.
I fi rmly believe that all surviving
Thanks to all the schools that
made the May 11 Honor Flight
Chicago possible:
Lyons Township High School
Highlands Middle School
Gurrie Middle School
Park Jr. High
St. John of the Cross
St. Cletus
St. Francis Xavier
McClure Jr. High
Shoulder to shoulder, 96 WWII vets take part in the
fl ag ceremony at the WWII Memorial.
WWII Veterans deserve to see the memo-
rial erected in their honor. Many of us
take our privileged lifestyle for granted,
yet without these heroes we wouldn’t be
so fortunate.”
Perhaps Park Junior High 7th grader
Bridget Kirby says it best, “It was abso-
lutely breath-taking! My great-grandfa-
ther fought in the war, and even though
he is not here anymore, it felt like he was
there at that moment. I would not trade
the smiles and tears that I saw on the
veterans’ faces for anything!”
Please help send another fl eet of World
War II veterans to Washington DC to see
their war memorial and nation’s monu-
ments. Consider donating to Honor Flight
Chicago by calling 1-773-227-VETS or
log on to www.honorfl ightchicago.org.
Stanley Nowak and his Honor Flight guard-
ian at the Air and Space Museum. Hugs of thanks and gratitude abound for vets
Freedom Riders greet vets at the airport.
Vets remember the fallen at Arlington Cemetery.
The Chicago police and fi re departments
salute the vets upon their return to Midway
Airport. The Korean War Veterans Memorial
Left: Three buddies
from Knox Indiana
pose beside the Lin-
coln Memorial.
HONOR
FLIGHT
CHICAGORight: Vets take part
in the fl ag ceremony
at the World War II
Memorial.
Veteran Curtwright at the Air and Space Museum with his Guardian, Captain John Malfi tano, Commanding Offi cer Naval Station Great Lakes.
Vets received letters from friends, family
and students for Mail Call on the fl ight
home. Servicemen share a smile at the Welcome Home.