Students in Mr. Sam Wurster’s Advanced Metals & Woods class presented hand-crafted American flags to military veterans, active-duty service members and law enforcement personnel on Oct. 2.

Thirteen flags, stained in red, white and blue with 50 stars precisely routed, were delivered to service members, including two Community staff members, during an informal ceremony in room 65.

The flag project was the latest example of the Technology department’s ongoing commitment to integrating technology education with community outreach: from 2021’s Festival of Trees project, supporting the Baby Fold, to the upcoming Go Baby Go! project.

The assignment was the course’s introductory project, reviewing concepts from the class prerequisites, completed utilizing scrap wood.

For Mr. Todd Kelly, a veteran of four years in the Navy, the flag project represented more than just spare wood — it is “an honor.”

Kelly, one of two veterans employed at Community as a safety monitor, served in the Gulf during Desert Storm, conducting “law enforcement operations to ensure ships carried “appropriate cargo.”

Monitor Mr. Jake McKown, who served four years in the Marine Corps and is currently enlisted in the Air National Guard, was also among the flag recipients.

“It means a lot to know that students care about your service,” McKown said.

Gallery • 2 Photos

Bradyn Blackwell

Two of Community’s safety monitors were among the recipients chosen by students in Mr. Wurster’s 4th hour Advanced Woods and Metals class to receive the handcrafted flags.

Several active duty and retired service members were also on hand to receive the handcrafter projects, including Marine Corps. recruiter Sgt. Kyle Flores.

Flores, who enlisted in 2017, received a flag from Landyn Linton, a senior planning enlisting in the Marines.

The experience, Flores said, was “unique,” “especially” since he was honored by “a student who… is going to be a United States Marine.”

Among those honored were members of local law enforcement, like Normal P.D’s Lt. Mike Chiesi.

“It means a lot to us in law enforcement to be thought about,” Chiesi said, “especially in a high school setting like this.”