West Aurora High students volunteer at food pantry on Veterans Day

Posted November 16, 2020 10:00 pm

Submitted by Al Benson

Ten West Aurora students celebrated Veterans Day Wednesday, Nov. 11, by volunteering at Aurora Area Interfaith Food Pantry.

The students are members of West's Air Force Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps unit IL-20141.

Master Sergeant Scott Hellinger, the aerospace science instructor, led the delegation.

The Aurora-based pantry held a morning drive-through food distribution for veterans and their families.

The event opened with posting of the colors by West's AFJROTC color guard. West Aurora's unit comprises 168 students, including 68 in a drill team.

The Air Force Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps is a subdivision of Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps, a junior military science elective class that is offered in many high schools.

West Aurora's unit won the Distinguished Unit Award with Merit for the 2019-20 school year. The award recognizes AFJROTC units that have performed above and beyond normal expectations and have distinguished themselves through outstanding service to their school and community, while meeting the citizenship development mission for America.

This recognition placed West's program in the top 10 percent of units nationwide.

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