Slinger students raising money to put vets on the Honor Flight

SLINGER -- A group of Slinger High School students is working to honor veterans of the greatest generation. They're raising money for them, and they've already received a big donation from a Vietnam veteran.

It's been about 40 years since James Gales was deployed to Vietnam. He was inspired to join the military after learning about the sacrifices his mother and uncles made during World War II.

That was the generation that made guys like me enlist to go. I followed the example of them," Gales said.

Gales recently learned about a fundraiser at his niece and nephew's high school to send WWII vets on the Honor Flight, which takes them to the War Memorial in Washington, D.C.

He collected $1,000 and it was donated in honor of Gales' late mother who worked in an ammunition plant during the war. 

"My mom is smiling right now. That makes me feel good inside," Gales said.

This is the second year students at Slinger High School have hosted this fundraiser. They are selling gold stars for $1 a piece for the cause, and they're also learning an important lesson.

"To raise some awareness that history is alive and that there are many people who have made sacrifices for us to live in the world that we live in today," Slinger High School Social Studies teacher Nate Grimm said.

Last year, the student volunteers raised enough money to put four vets on the Honor Flight.

"I think that it's important that people realize what the veterans have done for us in the past and in the future," Slinger High School senior Megan Johnson said.

So far the students at Slinger High School have raised $1,700 this year.

The fundraiser will go through the end of the week, but they will continue to accept donations for next years fundraiser.

Donations can be made by check, and mailed to:

Slinger High School
C/O Honor Flight
209 Polk Street
Slinger, WI 53086

All funds raised will be donated to the Stars and Stripes Honor Flight.