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Youth help 6 veterans attend honor flight

The Algona Upper Des Moines - 7/20/2017

ALGONA - Six veterans will be able to participate in the Brushy Creek Area Honor Flight later this year because of the work a group of Algona sixth-graders did to raise money for the veterans.

"It is incredible," said Jeanette Walker, Algona sixth-grade teacher who retired this year after 35 years teaching. She coordinated a bake sale to raise money for the veterans. "Most kids have some connection somewhere with a veteran. They are so eager and wiling to help. It is a perfect age."

The students conducted a bake sale during the spring vocal concert. This year's group will be participating on the honor flight in the fall. The honor flight participants depart from Fort Dodge Regional Airport to Washington, D. C. The sites that are seen include World War II Memorial, Korean Memorial, Vietnam Memorial, Iowa Jima Memorial and Arlington Cemetery.

The bake sale has been going on since 2015. The first year the students raised enough for two people, the next year for three. This year the students doubled their efforts, raising money for six veterans to participate.

Levi Clegg said his grandfather went on an honor flight and really loved it. "I think it is worthwhile," he said. "It makes me feel good because seeing how happy my grandpa was when he went on it I know it would mean the same to all the other veterans."

Tatumn Schmitt enjoyed the bake sale to help the veterans. "The day before the bake sale my mom and I stayed up and made brownies, rice Krispies, crumble cake, cookies quick bread and Oreo bars," she said. "We wanted to help out because there are veterans that need to go on the flight."

Schmitt was surprised to find out how much they raised. "I knew we would beat our goal, but I didn't know we would be doubling last year's goal," she said.

Alailah Perry spent time with her grandmother baking goodies, while her mother worked alone making other baking goods.

After seeing the video and the looks on the veterans faces, it spurred me on, Perry said. "I wanted to get at least one more," she said. "I took that as a challenge to make even more things."

Walker, who has a passion for community service, stated that it was easy to get the youth on board. She put together a slide show of an honor flight trip, explained what they did and talked about he cost of it and the meaning of it. "It took off from there," she said.

She said she was "blown away" when she found out they raised that much money. "The first day we got four," Walker said. "We decided we couldn't stop. It meant a lot to them. We had kids bring in money. We had kids go into their piggy bank. The following week they wanted to donate."

Walker said on the day of the bake sale, she saw the smiles on their faces and the pride they had. "I think the whole sacrifice to our country is what they are learning," she said. "It has been one of the best activities I have been part of in 35 years."