Grapevine-Colleyville ISD (GCISD) has
been invited to participate in a district-wide partnership with American
Airlines and the Fort Worth Airpower Foundation. This is an optional opportunity for our students
that is once in a lifetime.
Our purpose is to share and encourage the Spirit of gratitude for those who have sacrificed in the service to protect American ideals, and to help instill a sense of civic duty.
Students will have the opportunity to enter competitions to become an ambassador on the Freedom Flight. The one-day Freedom Flight on May 24th, 2011, will be an American Airlines chartered plane carrying WWII veterans, GCISD students, a film crew, and other necessary personnel, to and from Washington DC to visit the new WWII memorial and Arlington National Cemetery. Students will be representing GCISD and serve as a connection between the generations. This entire journey from planning to landing will be made into a documentary film.
Students have participated in many ways:
1. Hundreds of students created designs for the Freedom Flight “Challenge Coin” contest. The judges chose the iconic Iwo Jima flag raising design by Baylee Asbill, a sophomore at Grapevine High School. Baylee was surprised with a presentation in her classroom by Iwo Jima Veteran Don Graves and Freedom Flight chair Lisa Arpey. Baylee will fly to Washington, D.C. with others on the Freedom Flight and help distribute the coin she designed.
2. Hundreds of students entered the “Expressions of Freedom” project. From that group, a approximately 40-50 additional students will be chosen as representatives of GCISD and will also go on the Freedom Flight.
3. We invite you to attend the Celebration May 9th at The Grapevine High School gymnasium. The event at 6:00-8:00pm will feature Mustang-Panther Stadium an outside opening event, as former Army Golden Knights Dana Bowman and Mike Elliott skydive into the celebration with superintendent Dr. Robin Ryan.
This is an opportunity for our students to do a great service to GCISD and our country, and to become a living legacy for our veterans. The connections made with veterans will build relationships of respect and gratitude between the generations.GCISD is so proud that our students will have the opportunity to participate in the Freedom Flight. It is a great honor that American Airlines has generously extended just for GCISD.
For up-to-date information and a video by Dr. Robin Ryan, Superintendent of GCISD, with a message to all students, please check the GCISD Website ->Departments and Programs -> Social Studies.
Many more details and communication to come!
Erin Bown
Social Studies Coordinator
