When parents display a giving, unselfish attitude , their children take notice and generally follow suit.
Clinton County residents and businesses have been exceedingly magnanimous with their time and money when it comes to the veterans in our communities, and a group of East Clinton’s third, fourth and fifth graders demonstrated what they had learned by lending their support to the Clinton County Honor Flight project.
This group of young philanthropists known as the “Kids Care Club” (KCC) has been operating out of the Sabina and New Vienna Elementary Schools, under the direction of Parent Involvement Coordinator/Student Services Specialist Cheryl Roberts, since 2011. Normally 35-40 students from each school meet for 45 minutes, twice a month, to select worthwhile causes, plan fundraisers and implement their “caring” plans.
The club chose to sponsor a veteran for the Clinton County Honor Flight after the school nurse, Lisa Stephens, and her father, Korean War veteran Sy Stephens, spoke with the KCC group in Sabina about their experiences on the Oct. 1, 2016 Honor Flight.
The students were so motivated, they decided to sponsor a veteran and make sure this project was successfully completed in time for the April 29 flight.
The students decided that selling cutouts of military boots and “V”’s at school and to the community would be a good way to raise the $425 needed to sponsor a veteran. With the help of staff member Joy McIntosh and some of her friends, the KCC members not only reached their goal, they more than doubled it.
The club raised a total of $958.25, enough to sponsor two veterans and have money to spare. After much deliberation, the members informed their advisors: “The extra money is for the veterans to buy snacks.”
Members of the Clinton County Honor Flight Committee visited the KCC New Vienna students on April 19 and were presented with the Honor Flight check to officially begin a series of send-off and preparatory events, including Guardian training at the Wilmington American Legion Post on April 23 and a special tribute section in today’s Wilmington News Journal.
Send-off Friday
The big Clinton County Honor Flight 2 send-off program is Friday, April 28 beginning at 5:30 p.m on. Walnut Street between Main and Sugartree streets, in front of the Veterans Memorial in Wilmington.
Residents of the county will have the opportunity to say “Thank you for your service” to this local group of patriots and cheer them on as they board their chartered buses for Dayton at the conclusion of the program.
Approximately 800 Clinton County well-wishers participated in the Sept. 30, 2016 send-off and the committee is looking to surpass that number on the 28th.
Clinton County Honor Flight 2 will get a special send off from Clinton County’s own Cliff Rosenberger, Speaker of the Ohio House of Representatives, who will be giving the keynote address. Rosenberger, a veteran himself, will be joined by the Wilmington mayor, Clinton County commissioners, representatives from the flight’s sponsors, the Wilmington Rotary Clubs AM and Noon), American Legion Posts 49 and 179, and VFW Post 6710 as well as supporting organizations, vocalists, musicians, and more.
“These are the men and women, our friends and neighbors, that gave selflessly of themselves, that we might enjoy the freedoms we cherish so much,” said a spokesperson for the Clinton County Honor Flight Committee. “So many have shown their financial support, now we hope as many come out to personally show these veterans how much we appreciate their sacrifices.”
