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Wescott School donates $1,800 to Honor Flight Chicago, recognized at Veterans Day student concert

For a decade, students and staff at Wescott School in Northbrook have supported Honor Flight Chicago, which helps thank America’s senior citizen military veterans with an all-expense paid journey to Washington, D.C. for a day of honor and thanks.

This year, students and staff continued this tradition for Veterans Day on Nov. 9, where they presented more than $1,800 raised last month from an October school lemonade stand — enough to send one veteran on the trip to D.C. In turn, Honor Flight Chicago presented Wescott with the Guardian Banner award, according to a news release.

Wescott is the first school to win this award this academic year “in recognition of their outstanding support of (our) mission and their incredible fundraising efforts,” according to Honor Flight Chicago organizer Jim Weinstein. He is a U.S. Marine veteran who served in Vietnam and attended the Wescott concert with his wife and Honor Flight colleague, Helen. the release said.

The exchange took place during the school’s annual Veterans Day performance by the fourth-grade class, “Everyday Heroes.” The event welcomed family, friends, staff and community members who served our country to attend. The show also included four original songs written by music teacher Quentin Coaxum, including “Heroes” and “Saved My Life,” as well as standards like “God Bless America.”

Wecott’s connection with Honor Flight Chicago started with first-grade teacher Sharon Latek of Northbrook, according to the release. When Latek’s daughter, Jayne, was in third-grade, she took her Midway Airport to welcome veterans home from their trip to the capital.

“After that, we were hooked,” Latek said.

According to the release, she began collecting letters from Wescott students for mail call, a tradition on the Honor Flight where veterans are surprised with letters of appreciation from community members.

Later, Honor Flight launched Operation Education, a group of volunteer teachers. Five years ago, Latek was asked to join as a representative for this area in Cook County.

“We meet monthly throughout the year to make sure that our schools and students in kindergarten through high school have a connection with local veterans, not just on Veterans Day but every day,” Latek said in the release.

In July of 2022, Latek and Jayne were a part of the first Operation Education Flight, where they served on an Honor Flight Chicago trip as guardians — volunteers who are companions to the senior veterans on the trip, the release said.

“Over the years District 30, has been more than supportive of our involvement with Honor Flight Chicago, including Willowbrook and Maple schools also both participating in mail call,” Latek said. “It’s so wonderful that all of Northbrook/Glenview School District 30 values our veterans and supports them by giving back.”