The Syracuse University Student Veterans Organization is donating $1,000 to Honor Flight Syracuse, which will send 65 World War II veterans to Washington, D.C., on Oct. 5.
The organization held a raffle in the spring to raise money to help fund the trip. Local businesses, including Saving Face Barber Shop and the Blarney Stone restaurant, assisted with selling raffle tickets. Prizes included a new 32GB iPad Mini, two iPod Nanos and a Syracuse University-themed gift basket, including two tickets to a home football game this season.
The SU Veterans Organization is composed of student veterans who have completed their terms of military service and chose to pursue the educational opportunity afforded by the post-9/11 GI Bill at Syracuse University.
Honor Flight Syracuse is a national, nonprofit organization that sends veterans to Washington, D.C., for a day-long, all-expense-paid flight to see the memorials, visit Arlington National Cemetery and reflect upon their service to the nation.
“The SU student veterans wanted to support a veteran organization that we have previously worked with,” says Anthony Keach, president of the SU Student Veterans Club. “World War II veterans are passing away every day and we wanted to participate in honoring the profound sacrifices made by that generation of veterans.”
Keach says that the veterans at SU felt privileged to assist in this mission that allows World War II veterans the opportunity to visit the recently erected WWII memorial, as well as other national monuments and Arlington National Cemetery. “It’s our way of showing our respect to those who may otherwise not been able to visit during their lifetime.” he says.
In addition to fundraising for the Honor Flight Syracuse program, the SU Veterans Organization sponsored a unit currently deployed to Afghanistan. They have also worked with Habitat for Humanity Veterans Build, which resulted in the organization receiving the Chancellor’s Award for Public Recognition and Scholarship in March 2012.
