SHS students launch club to honor local veterans
<p>As members of the Sandpoint Honor Flight Club, a group of high schoolers are raising funds to send World War II veterans to Washington, D.C. Pictured standing are advisor John Nitcy, Isabelle Sherry, Victoria LaFayette, Madie Slaton, Logan Finney, Jered Meyer, Josh Wallis, club president Mia Schroeder and Sadie Nitcy. Those kneeling include Erin Payne, Kelsey Kittleson,Violet Plummer, Makena Presnell and Kathleen Harvey. (Photo by CAMERON RASMUSSON)</p>
SANDPOINT — When veterans are able to see the national honors dedicated to them, they’ll understand their true level of appreciation.
That’s the hope of the Sandpoint Honor Flight Club. A new high school organization started this year, the group reaches across generational and national divides in an effort to help World War II veterans visit the Washington, D.C., memorial commemorating their service.
That goal will be accomplished through a series of fundraisers, including the screening of “Honor Flight,” an acclaimed documentary covering the nationwide initiative to honor World War II veterans while they’re still with us. The documentary is at the center of the Honor Flight Network nonprofit, which has flown more than 100,000 veterans to Washington, D.C.
“It doesn’t matter who we are or where we come from,” club president Mia Schroeder said. “It just matters that we honor history.”
That’s especially true for Schroeder, a German foreign exchange student studying in Sandpoint this year. While Schroeder recognizes there’s some irony in a young German reaching out to local World War II veterans, she also understands that the men and women who lived history are a valuable resource to the entire world.
“It’s so important to be able to talk about history and make it personal,” she said.
Schroeder’s feelings are heightened by the recognition that 1,000 World War II veterans die each day. As the world moves further away from the most pivotal event of the 20th century, it loses the personal connection of the men and women who experienced it firsthand.
Sandpoint students are determined to do their part in honoring the World War II veterans that remain. In fact, the initiative was based as much on their enthusiasm as teacher John Nitcy’s planning. After covering a section on World War II in school, several students wanted to learn more about the subject and extend their education into a gesture toward local veterans. That paired well with Nitcy’s own interest in the subject.
“One thing I’ve been very happy about with this club is how enthusiastic these guys are,” Nitcy said. “Students sometimes get the reputation for being disinterested, but that’s not the case here.”
While the group is still in the early planning stages, they plan to locate a venue and a date to screen the film, earning money through ticket and concession sales. Nitcy said that Sandpoint High School Principal Becky Meyer has already offered to fund the purchase of the film. The rest should be a matter of careful planning.
“This is something we really believe in,” Nitcy said. “In many ways, it’s a race against time.”
Those interested in assisting the Honor Flight Club with promotional ideas or other means of assistance should contact Nitcy at john.nitcy@lposd.org or 263-7958.