Yard art supports Old Glory Honor Flight
By John Faucher
When Hortonville Middle School Student Hannah Bellile set out to complete a craft project this spring, she did not know it was going to turn into a non-profit business venture.
The young artist decided to turn a shipping pallet into a patriotic yard sign.
Soon after she completed the first decoration, people took note.
They liked it and asked her to make more.
Bellile’s family has a long history of military service. She began thinking on it and decided to use her time and talents to do something for veterans.
Her grandfather is a Korean War Veteran. Hannah said that her grandfather has expressed an interest in one day having the opportunity to travel to Washington D.C. on the Northeast Wisconsin Old Glory Honor Flight.
Hannah researched the honor flight.
The Northeast Wisconsin Old Glory Honor Flight is dedicated to transporting local veterans to Washington D.C. to see the memorials built in their honor.
Veterans sign up for the flight months in advance. When selected, plans are then put into motion and veterans are paired with an escort to make the one-day trip free of charge.
Bellile decided she would begin fulfilling orders for her yard decorations and sell them to raise funds for the honor flight.
She sold more than 20 so far, raising $400 for the cause.
“More orders are coming in for next spring,” said her dad Jeremy Bellile. “I think we’ll have to clear the garage for this winter, but she plans to keep building the decorations and selling them next year.”
Hannah’s brother Brayden assists her with delivery of the finished product.
She said her mother Angela is currently looking into signing up her grandfather for the flight in the future.
“It’s a small way to say ‘thank you’ for their service and sacrifices to our county,” Hannah said.