LCHS students working to send veterans to Washington
Lead Summary
By
Caitlin Forsha-crforsha@gmail.com
Two Lynchburg-Clay High School students are collecting funds to help make three Lynchburg veterans' wishes come true with the help of Honor Flight, a program that sends war veterans to visit their memorials in Washington D.C.
Lynchburg-Clay students Kelsey Clinton and Alisha DeBoard are spearheading the project as part of a Family, Career and Community Leaders of America service project. The students said they chose Honor Flight because they had visited a World War II veteran, Art Puckett, at a local veterans' home and were inspired to find a project to help older veterans.
Through Honor Flight, veterans are flown at no cost to them to visit their war memorials. Clinton and DeBoard have chosen to work with Honor Flight Dayton, with all flights going through the Dayton International Airport.
The students are hoping to sponsor three Highland County veterans, one of whom served in World War II and two who served in the Korean War. Clinton and DeBoard interviewed one of the Korean War veterans to determine whether he would be interested in this project, and both he and a friend expressed a desire to visit their memorial.
"World War II veterans are Honor Flight's first priority right now," LCHS Family and Consumer Science teacher Sue Priest said. "Korean War veterans are their second priority as they are the second-oldest group now."
The three veterans Clinton and DeBoard hope to assist are Robert Hunter, Richard Smith and William V. (Pete) West, all of Lynchburg. According to the students, West, 94, served in World War II in the 13th Armored Division, where he was a communications chief technical sergeant. Hunter served in the Army 24 years and was a maintenance technician during the Korean War, receiving the Combat Infantryman Badge and the St. George Medal. Smith also served in the Korean War, where he worked with tanks.
In addition to their Honor Flight project, Clinton and DeBoard are collecting photos from families interested in participating in Flags of Our Heroes, another branch of the Honor Flight program. This program honors deceased veterans who never visited their memorials. Families may send a 5x7 photo of their veteran, preferably in uniform, to the Honor Flight organization. Honor Flight will mail a free 8x10 photo back to the family of the American flag, along with the veteran's photo, next to the appropriate war memorial.
A change drive is being held at the high school through Friday, Feb. 22, but anyone in the community is welcome to donate. In order to sponsor the three veterans, the students need to raise $750. Those who wish to donate or would like to participate in the Flags of Our Heroes program can mail or drop off their pictures/donations to Lynchburg-Clay High School, 6267 State Route 134 S. Lynchburg, Ohio 45142. Checks can be made payable to Lynchburg-Clay Honor Flight Fundraiser or Lynchburg-Clay FCCLA.
Priest said that while her students have organized projects involving current servicemen and women, including collection drives to send care packages, they have never had a project involving retired veterans aside from the school's annual Veterans' Day program.
"The girls are really excited about wanting to do this," Priest said. "They have a real genuine heart for doing something for veterans."[[In-content Ad]]
Lynchburg-Clay students Kelsey Clinton and Alisha DeBoard are spearheading the project as part of a Family, Career and Community Leaders of America service project. The students said they chose Honor Flight because they had visited a World War II veteran, Art Puckett, at a local veterans' home and were inspired to find a project to help older veterans.
Through Honor Flight, veterans are flown at no cost to them to visit their war memorials. Clinton and DeBoard have chosen to work with Honor Flight Dayton, with all flights going through the Dayton International Airport.
The students are hoping to sponsor three Highland County veterans, one of whom served in World War II and two who served in the Korean War. Clinton and DeBoard interviewed one of the Korean War veterans to determine whether he would be interested in this project, and both he and a friend expressed a desire to visit their memorial.
"World War II veterans are Honor Flight's first priority right now," LCHS Family and Consumer Science teacher Sue Priest said. "Korean War veterans are their second priority as they are the second-oldest group now."
The three veterans Clinton and DeBoard hope to assist are Robert Hunter, Richard Smith and William V. (Pete) West, all of Lynchburg. According to the students, West, 94, served in World War II in the 13th Armored Division, where he was a communications chief technical sergeant. Hunter served in the Army 24 years and was a maintenance technician during the Korean War, receiving the Combat Infantryman Badge and the St. George Medal. Smith also served in the Korean War, where he worked with tanks.
In addition to their Honor Flight project, Clinton and DeBoard are collecting photos from families interested in participating in Flags of Our Heroes, another branch of the Honor Flight program. This program honors deceased veterans who never visited their memorials. Families may send a 5x7 photo of their veteran, preferably in uniform, to the Honor Flight organization. Honor Flight will mail a free 8x10 photo back to the family of the American flag, along with the veteran's photo, next to the appropriate war memorial.
A change drive is being held at the high school through Friday, Feb. 22, but anyone in the community is welcome to donate. In order to sponsor the three veterans, the students need to raise $750. Those who wish to donate or would like to participate in the Flags of Our Heroes program can mail or drop off their pictures/donations to Lynchburg-Clay High School, 6267 State Route 134 S. Lynchburg, Ohio 45142. Checks can be made payable to Lynchburg-Clay Honor Flight Fundraiser or Lynchburg-Clay FCCLA.
Priest said that while her students have organized projects involving current servicemen and women, including collection drives to send care packages, they have never had a project involving retired veterans aside from the school's annual Veterans' Day program.
"The girls are really excited about wanting to do this," Priest said. "They have a real genuine heart for doing something for veterans."[[In-content Ad]]