Hickory Creek Middle School raises funds to sponsor trips for veterans

Hickory Creek Middle School’s seventh grade students participated in a special Veterans Day program on November 11. This year the school raised $8,500 for Honor Flight Chicago, a non-profit organization that was founded to recognize veterans, most specifically World War II veterans, with a day of honor, remembrance and celebration at their memorial in Washington, D.C. Over the past several years the school has raised close to $50,000 to sponsor veterans for this “trip of a lifetime.”

The seventh grade class raised the funds through a coin collecting effort, Aurelio’s pizza hot lunch sales, Popsicle sales, T-shirt sales, flag sales and concession stand sales contributed by the Student Council. Honor Flight Chicago will use the funds to fly a number of World War II veterans from Midway Airport in Chicago to Washington, DC to be honored for serving their country. It costs approximately $500 to send one veteran, which includes the purchase of plane tickets, meals, buses and all other costs.

Following a Color Guard presentation by seventh grade Boy Scouts and the Pledge to the Flag, Hickory Creek Principal William Seidelmann welcomed everyone to the assembly. Many Lincoln-Way area veterans were in attendance and some of them spoke about their experiences while serving our nation. Teacher Jane DeHaan explained that prior to Veterans Day the students discussed how seventh graders could make a difference in the life of veterans and they came up with the ideas for the assembly and classroom activities. The T-shirts, a flag made using student handprints and the many welcome signs in front of the school were all designed by the students. A patriotic song was written and performed by the students under the direction of Music Instructor David Wonder, gifts were given to veterans in boxes designed by the students and their positive “propaganda” posters about veterans was displayed. The students also made 50 fleece blankets for the Manteno Veterans’ Home and delivered 80 thank-you bags to the local veterans.

Read Boeckel, Secretary for Honor Flight Chicago, and World War II veteran Helen Ahlers were at the assembly to accept the check from the students. Mr. Boeckel stated, “This is absolutely unbelievable. I wish we could tell everyone in Chicago what a great school this is and what wonderful people you are.” More information about the Honor Flight Chicago organization is at www.honorflightchicago.org.

The students and veterans also saw a reenactment of the children’s story “America’s White Table” by Margot Theis Raven. Hickory Creek seventh grade staff members Sue Kazmierczak, Tonia Gatsios and Mitch Stein presented this tribute to fallen service members.

Through the District Charitable Giving Committee, all three District 157-C schools are also collecting and organizing holiday care packages for the men and women who are serving in the armed forces.