Jayhawk expands program, holds fundraiser for 2027 Honor Flight on Nov. 11

A crowd was waiting to welcome Honor Flight veterans and guardians home at Kansas City International airport last June. (Photos by Kathleen Hinrichs / Honor Flight coordinator)

By Roger Sims, Journal staff

linncountyjournal@icloud.com

MOUND CITY – About a year ago, Stephanie Nichols was notified that a slot was unfilled for last June’s Honor Flight to Washington, D.C.

Honor Flight is a national program that raises money for veterans of the U.S. Armed Forces to visit the nation’s Capitol for a two-day whirlwind tour that includes dinners and other events that honor those who have served our country.

Even though the planned trip was about six month away, Nichols, who is director for student services for Jayhawk USD 346, and program supporters needed time to identify a veteran and a student “guardian” to assist the veteran, and raise money for a round-trip plane ticket, meals, a hotel room and other incidentals.

Nichols held a fundraiser concert last spring, and even though the concert was lightly attended, the Jayhawk community kicked in and fundraising exceeded expectations.

Then another surprise. A second Honor Flight slot opened up just before the trip was scheduled to begin. A second veteran, former JLHS counselor David Nichols, volunteered to fill the slot, a student guardian was found, and Jayhawk had veterans, students and a faculty sponsor on their way to D.C.

Jayhawk-Linn student guardian Clay Nichols and veteran Art Grigsby are accompanied by a tour guide at the nation's Capitol in Washington, D.C. last June.

Stephanie Nichols, who as a counselor at Prairie View started the program there that sends five veterans annually, announced last week that the Jayhawk program now has slots for three veterans and three guardians in June 2027.

The host for the school is actually Lyndon High School, however Tom Horstick, a former assistant principal at JLHS and the former principal at Central Heights, is coordinator for the program that now fills a commercial jet with veterans, student guardians and sponsors from several area schools, including PVHS and now JLHS.

So now fundraising begins in earnest for the Jayhawk-sponsored veterans, guardians and sponsors for the 2027 trip.

 The effort will begin on biscuits and gravy meal on Veterans Day, Wednesday, Nov. 11, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at Jayhawk Elementary.

Organizers are asking for a free-will donation to the program, however, veterans eat free.

The public is encouraged to attend.