News : VSHS Class of 2010 presents check to NCI Honor Flight

Roger Uthoff presents plaque from NCI Honor Flight to 2010 officers John Wilder and Katie Henderson

This plaque will be on display as a reminder of the generosity of Class of 2010 to WWII veterans.

The VSHS Class of 2010 poses with vets during presentation to NCI Honor Flight program May 13.

Le Laton, Dale Alpers and John Kelley speak to school staff about visiting WWII Memorial in D.C.

What the Vinton-Shellsburg Class of 2010 decided to do with its class trip funds is an example of people putting others ahead of themselves, said VSHS Principal Kirk Johnson.

What they did was this: Instead of using their class trip to pay for a day at Six Flags for themselves, the seniors voted on a much cheaper trip to an area park. They donated the difference -- $1,500 -- to help World War II Veterans go see the memorial in their honor in Washington.

On Thursday, May 13, during a student body assembly, the seniors presented the check to Mike Moran, the director of North Central Iowa Honor Flight. That organization is raising funds to send approximately 200 veterans to Washington, D.C.

Johnson said he called the assembly so the student body and staff could see what the seniors had done.

(Several Vinton Today readers expressed their appreciation for the students' decision; read their views in our "Opinion" section today.)

Moran said the Honor Flight program is receiving wide support, and plans to announce a major sponsorship later this month.

"At first, we planned only one trip," said Moran. But the response from donors and sponsors has been so great that two trips have now been scheduled. The first one is in June, the second, September.

Because of runway work at the Eastern Iowa Airport, the veterans will fly in 737 jets instead of 747s. The 737 can carry 162 passengers. Of that number, approximately 100 will be veterans and the other 62 will be caregivers for vets who need them, said Moran.

This is the second recent donation from VSHS to the NCI Honor Flight Program. The students recently held a special dress-up week, in which they donated $1 a day to participate. That event raised $700.

Veterans John Kelley, Le Laton and Dale Alpers, who recently went to D.C. as part of the Honor Flight program, attended the event at the high school, wearing shirts they received during their trip. Roger Uthoff is a member of the NCI Board, and has worked with Johnson on the fund-raising efforts. He also attended Thursday's presentation, and introduced Moran and the veterans to the student body.

Reader Comments...............
Thank you Class of 2010 for putting others first! Continue this throughout your life and you will have many celebrations to be proud of.

This should make us proud to be from Vinton! What great young adults!

My daughter is a member of the Class of 2010 and I am very proud of the generosity and decision of this Sr class to allow more veterans to participate in the Honor Flight program!

What a fantastic idea for the senior class, hopefully setting an example for future classes. Giving back to the Veterans who have giving us so much!!! GREAT JOB VSHS CLASS OF 2010!!! Your community is very proud...