On June 3, seventh-grade students from South County Middle School welcomed two Honor Flights of veterans to the World War II Memorial at the National Mall. This event is part of their annual theme, “Make that Change,” which focuses on honoring America’s heroes through acts of kindness and gratitude.
For eight years, English Teacher Lisa Reaves and retired History Teacher Cindy Downing have continued this project. The event began with students greeting veterans from the Land of Lincoln (Illinois) Honor Flight with handmade posters and interactive cards featuring personalized messages and QR codes linking to recordings of the students expressing their thanks.
Later in the day, a second group of veterans from the Flag City (Ohio) Honor Flight received not only cards and signs but also hand-tied patriotic fleece blankets made by the students. A total of 120 blankets were prepared as symbols of care and appreciation.
Reaves highlighted the dual impact of the project: “Focusing on the health and well-being of the students by providing opportunities to make a difference in society, and increasing self-esteem by developing soft skills that are beneficial in a real-world setting.”
Veterans expressed how meaningful the experience was for them. Larry Wilt, who served two years in Vietnam, said, “I’ve been to the World War II Memorial once by myself, but this time is even better because I’m with dozens of other veterans.” He added that being greeted by students made him feel special as a veteran.
Student Hana shared her thoughts: “This experience feels so rewarding. Being part of the youth and connecting with elders is wonderful. It feels like we’re paying them back for our freedom.”
Donald Wiles, an Army veteran from 1961 to 1965, stated, “This day has been absolutely wonderful. We’ve been treated like kings. The young people doing this makes me feel really happy because we’re bringing kids up that understand what freedom really means — and that freedom isn’t free.”
Dana, another Vietnam veteran, sent a thank-you email to Reaves after the event: “It was a very emotional experience for me… Your students accomplished more in the short time [that they were with us] than they may understand. They healed many broken hearts yesterday, and I was one of them.”
The project received support from local businesses such as Wegmans, which donated reusable bags for transporting blankets. Educate Fairfax provided a grant to help make this project possible.
Through this initiative, South County Middle School students are learning about ethical citizenship and civic responsibility while honoring those who served.
