On November 9, the Gurney Service Learning Club kicked off the Wreaths Across America project with a visit to their Hamlet Village neighbors. Sixteen third graders and co-advisors Dale Tschappat and Courtney Mooney traveled by bus to the Hamlet senior living community, wearing red, white, and blue to share their patriotic spirit. The District-wide theme for the year is "CF Together" and this month they are honoring those who have served together.
Esther McElhinney, a Chagrin Falls Air Force veteran and representative from Wreaths Across America, was the guest speaker. Both Mrs. McElhinney and her husband are Air Force veterans. She shared about her experience as an Air Force pilot, showing the students a model of a plane she used to fly. The kids were amazed by how fast she could fly and her stories about jumping out of planes.
The students worked with Hamlet residents to color wreaths and write thank you notes to veterans. One veteran even wrote a note thanking veterans for their service and telling about his own service. Several of the Hamlet residents are veterans themselves and told the Gurney students stories from their time in the military, like serving on a submarine during World War II.
One Gurney student shared that he has always wanted to play in the NFL, but after hearing Mrs. McElhinney, he might want to join the Air Force when he's older instead.
Mrs. McElhinney said, "As a 20+ year veteran, I absolutely loved talking with the children and residents of Hamlet about some of my experiences in the Air Force! They were so curious and thoughtful. It’s obvious that Gurney Elementary is doing a fantastic job teaching the importance of freedom and democracy to these kids. When I moved to the area in 2021 and saw there was a local chapter supporting Wreaths Across America, I knew I must get involved. The amount of sacrifice and loss our veterans have endured is the staggering price of freedom and needs to be recognized. Wreaths Across America does a tremendous job with the Remember, Honor, Teach platform. Teaching the next generation the importance of freedom is paramount to the success of our great nation."
In a few weeks, the Chagrin Falls Schools’ staff will have the opportunity to participate in a District-wide service project. Together, they will place flags at the headstones of veterans at Evergreen Hill Cemetery. These flags will be markers for the actual wreath laying that will take place on Saturday, December 16.
Pictures below:
Wreaths Across America thank you note written by a Hamlet resident and veteran to another veteran. So touching!
Residents and students enjoyed catching up and working on this project together.
The third graders enjoyed hearing the stories of what it was like to jump out of the plane. Pictured here with Air Force veteran Esther McIlhinney. She shared a model of the plane she once flew.
Gurney third grader, Cora Bergman, worked with a Hamlet resident on the Wreaths Across America project. 
Third grader Andre Rozsa worked hard to complete his Wreaths Across America project.
Veteran and Wreaths Across America representative, Esther McElhinney shared about her experience serving in the Air Force.