School Children Provide Support for Honor Flight Programs

Some of the most ardent supporters of the various honor flight programs around the nation have been school children. A unique part of the honor flight experience is when WWII veterans speak to classes about their experiences. The children have responded in turn by supporting the veterans by attending the airport homecoming celebrations, raising money for the program, and in some cases even traveling to Washington, D.C. to experience the memorial with their veterans.

Recently, students from Santa Rosa County in Northwest Florida raised over $30,000 to help sponsor the Emerald Coast Honor Flight hub's April 29th flight. The students held car washes, yard sales, penny wars, among other fundraisers to raise the money. Veterans have visited many of the schools and have shared their WWII experiences. They have helped children connect to history in a significant way while learning from first-hand sources the meaning of courage, devotion, patriotism, and sacrifice.

Closer to home, Prattville Alabama schools have embraced their Honor Flight program as well. Schools have raised money, made banners and signs, and even constructed a memoral on their campus. Prattville Christian Academy raised over $10,000 by selling bricks and building an "Honor Walk" to honor WWII veterans. One 6th grade class actually made the trip to D.C. ahead of the veterans so they could be at the WWII memorial to greet their heroes when they arrived. The local news captured perhaps the most poignant moment of the surprise greeting; a student showing his thanks with a salute, and an old soldier returning the favor.

The Honor Flight program provides a bridge from our country's past to our future. But this is possible only because volunteers cared enough to give of their time to help create this link between America's "Latest Generation" and her "Greatest Generation".