After congratulating the students on their achievement and thanking them for their donation,
Grant asked them why they had chosen to help raise money for the Ozarks Honor Flight.
“My grandfather passed away five years ago,” responded Jacob Fletcher. “I enjoy helping the
elderly. It’s even better if that person is a vet.”
As the other students listened, Fletcher continued, “It was a collective effort. We couldn’t have
done it if we were not all in favor of it.”
Grant then took the opportunity to explain how important the Ozarks Honor Flight has been to
the veterans who have accepted the invitation to fly to Washington, D.C.
“Some tell us that this (the day of the flight) was their best day ever in 70 years,” he said.
He also shared with the students the sense of urgency he and the others working to provide the
flight feel, about making the opportunity available while the World War II veterans are still alive and well enough, to make the trip to see the monument erected in their honor.
“We have worked to raise more than $2 million in the years we’ve been doing the flight,” he
told Club members. “Out of the more than 80 around the country, no honor flight has taken more veterans faster than Ozarks Honor Flight. I’m so glad we decided to sign on (as a sponsor) with Ozarks Honor Flight.”
“Next week the students are going to be writing letters to present to the veterans during the
mail call part of their trip,” Neuroth announced.
“Those letters mean so much to the veterans,” Grant answered. “Even if they don’t know the
person who writes to them, receiving the letters makes them feel special. Some tell us they get more mail during mail call than they got throughout all of World War II.
“We will be forever grateful for this.”
The Seymour Middle School Jr. BETA Club is a group of students with high academic achievement who participate in community service projects throughout the school year. The BETA motto is: Let us lead by serving others. Currently there are 23 members of the Club at Seymour Middle School.
During the 2011-2012 school year, they have held a Fall food drive for the King’s Food Pantry,
adopted a family at Christmas, participated in the 11 cent program for Veterans, and operated the school store.
“It is a pleasure to work with this group of students,” said Neuroth. “They will do anything asked of them.”
A photo of the students with Grant was aired on the KY3 News at Six that night.
If you know of a World War II veteran in our area, who has not yet traveled on the Ozarks Honor Flight, they may submit their application online at www.ozarkshonorflight.com. For more information, call 417-268-3390 or email them at info@ozarkshonorflight.com.
(Photo attached courtesy Sherry Nash / Webster County Citizen)
