OPERATION EDUCATION SPOTLIGHT

“What makes a hero?” is an essential question seventh grade students at Hickory Creek Middle School are asked each year during the month of October. Students are challenged with a four-week Veterans Day-focused curriculum that involves raising money to donate to Honor Flight Chicago. Students have raised money by selling popsicles and flags, from generous community donations, and through ‘Penny Wars.’ 

‘Penny Wars’ is a week-by-week competition between the two seventh grade teams at Hickory Creek. Students may add to their own classroom savings during the first couple of weeks; after some time, students may ‘bomb’ the opposing classroom for those totals to be subtracted from their classroom’s savings at the end of the four weeks. Ultimately, all the money donated is given to Honor Flight Chicago. 

“Students engage in this activity with much enthusiasm, appreciation, and respect, all while knowing there is no material reward in the end,” said Hickory Creek seventh-grade teacher Tonia Gatsios. “The true reward is knowing that as a school, they are paying it forward to the men and women who have served and protected our country.

“What it means to the students is that they have a role in being able to help and show their appreciation for our country’s veterans, even if it is ‘only’ pennies they are able to contribute.”

For more than 10 years, Read Boeckel, a representative from Honor Flight Chicago, and WWII veteran Helen Ehlers have graciously visited Hickory Creek during the school’s “Veteran’s Day” assembly to accept the donations made by students and staff at the school.

“Each year, students are more informed and impacted by the positive act of kindness that Honor Flight Chicago offers for our veterans,” Gatsios said. “Students are left with a great appreciation of how veterans have fought, and continue to fight, for the rights and freedoms we have in this country.”