Flying high for heroes

Students at Gulf Breeze Elementary School held their fourth annual Jets for Vets fundraiser to help send World War II veterans to Pearl Harbor, raising more than $700 in the process.

The students made and flew paper airplanes and competed within their classes to see which plane would fly the farthest.

On Nov. 10, the classroom winners gathered in the cafeteria for one final flight to determine grade level winners. Joining the students for the concluding flight were several distinguished guests.

World War II veteran and Pearl Harbor survivor Cass Phillips, along with veterans Joe Pace and Bretts Linger shared stories and memories with the students.

Phillips enlisted in the Navy in 1938 and was serving at Pearl Harbor when Japanese fighter and bomber aircraft attacked the facility on December 7, 1941, killing more than 2,400 Americans and destroying 188 aircraft.

Phillips said he’s glad to come out and speak to the children about the historic event for several reasons.

“It’s the same old story, if you don’t know your history, you’re doomed to repeat it,” said Phillips, “It’s important that we know the lesson of Pearl Harbor and that is that we were not prepared.”

For more on this story, see the Nov. 17 issue of the Navarre Press.