Students and staff from across Elmhurst District 205 recently gathered as Honor Flight Chicago presented Guardian School banners recognizing this year’s fundraising efforts connected to the 2025 Veterans Day Run.
Sandburg Middle School, Field Elementary School, and Edison Elementary School each earned a Guardian Banner after raising at least $1,200 during the academic year, the amount needed to sponsor one veteran for a Day of Honor in Washington, D.C.
The banners were presented as part of Operation Education, which partners with Honor Flight Chicago to connect students with the mission of honoring senior veterans through education, service, and fundraising.
Together with Hawthorne Elementary School, the four schools raised a combined $12,592 through the efforts of students, staff, and the broader school communities. That total will help make it possible for ten veterans to participate in the 2026 flight season.
This marked the fourth year that Field and Sandburg hosted Fun Runs in support of Honor Flight Chicago’s mission, while Edison and Hawthorne joined the effort for the first time. Although Hawthorne fell just short of the Guardian Banner threshold, its first year of participation added to a districtwide effort that continues to grow and deepen students’ connection to honoring those who served.