Students host film to aid veterans
SANDPOINT — Honoring veterans doesn’t have to be difficult — in fact, this April, it’s as easy as going to the movies.
The Sandpoint High School Honor Flight Club has succeeded in securing a venue and screening date for the acclaimed “Honor Flight” documentary. By attending Friday and Saturday screenings on April 19-20, residents can help send World War II veterans to see the Washington, D.C., memorial honoring their service. All screenings will take place in the Sandpoint High School auditorium.
“This is a pretty busy time of year for the students, but they’re still doing a great job with this club,” said teacher and club advisor John Nitcy.
The screenings begin Friday afternoon from 1-2:40 p.m., when students will have the opportunity to be excused from their late classes to see the movie for the cost of a $5 ticket. That adds an extra incentive that should prove tempting to many high schoolers. Tickets can be purchased at the bookkeeper’s office.
Meanwhile, the general public has access to a screening at 7 p.m. Friday. Tickets cost $12 and are available to purchase online at honorflightatsandpoint.eventbrite.com. They will also be available to purchase at the door. Veterans and their spouses receive a free ticket, but should still go online to register.
A special follow-up screening will occur 2 p.m. on Saturday. Tickets to this screening are available online at honorflightatsandpoint2.eventbrite.com. Nitcy hopes to bring as many World War II veterans as possible to this screening as honored guests for the day.
“We have a poster we want them to sign that we will keep in our trophy case forever,” he said.
In the remaining month before the screening, Honor Flight Club members are working hard to promote the screenings and pack the auditorium seats. According to club vice president Madie Slaton, the students will be busy putting up posters, spreading the word through social media and inviting all their friends and family to attend.
“I’m really excited to see how everyone is going to react to the movie,” Slaton said.
“Honor Flight” documents the struggles of several World War II veterans to journey to Washington, D.C., in hopes of seeing the national memorial completed in 2004. Despite struggles with illness and finances, they maintain an inspiring motivation to visit the nation’s capital before it’s too late.
Screenings of the documentary serve as the primary fundraising tool for the Honor Flight nonprofit. The organization’s focus is much the same as the film — it uses a network of partners to send World War II veterans to the memorial at no personal cost.
“I’m excited to be able to present Honor Flight with a check very soon,” Nitcy said.