Pickaway-Ross Career & Technology Center students to help on upcoming Honor Flight

Shelby Reeves, Chillicothe Gazette
·2 min read
Students from the Pickaway-Ross Career & Technology Center are going to be guardians on an upcoming Honor Flight.
Students from the Pickaway-Ross Career & Technology Center are going to be guardians on an upcoming Honor Flight.

CHILLICOTHE — In recognition of those who have served their country and given them the freedoms they have today students from the Pickaway-Ross Career & Technology Center are preparing to serve veterans during an Honor Flight.

Honor flights are trips for veterans to Washington DC where they are recognized for their service and given the chance to visit America's memorials for veterans.

The one-day trip takes veterans over the age of 65 and guardians to the various war memorials and attractions in the DC area.

See more local Honor Flight news: Nine veteran brothers bond over shared service

Students come from Tea McCaulla's Voices of Freedom class where students have spent the year interviewing and recording the story of veterans while also working to celebrate them for their service through volunteering at the Chillicothe VA.

McCaulla said that even though the students all have different career plans, all of them share the desire to help veterans in the community.

As guardians they are in charge of helping two veterans as they board the plane, travel through DC and eventually get home. This includes pushing wheelchairs, making sure they are in the group, ensuring they have all the needed material and being a social guide to help that helps the veterans however they may need.

Several of the students said they were "nervous but excited" about this trip as it is an exciting time to be able to give back to those who served.

Beth Johnson with Honor Flight Columbus said the high school guardian program started in 2022 and has had great success. This program allows older generations to connect to those younger than them who want to help.

For Navy veteran Roger Grossnickle this is a very special trip as his guardian will be his grandson. He is looking forward to seeing the World War II monument as both of his parents served in the war and he helped to get them remembered in the monument.

Students and veterans will be flying on the 132nd mission of the flight on May 30.

Shelby Reeves is a reporter for the Chillicothe Gazette. You can email her at SReeves@gannett.com or follow her on Twitter @Shelby_Reeves_

This article originally appeared on Chillicothe Gazette: Pickaway-Ross students to take part in 132nd Honor Flight