Chapel Hill Students Holding Fundraiser to Help Send Veterans to D-Day Anniversary

2019 marks the 75th anniversary of D-Day, the Allied forces’ invasion of Nazi occupied France during World War II.

To commemorate the occasion, several Chapel Hill students and teachers are working to raise money to take two World War II veterans to Normandy in June.

Chapel Hill High School sophomore Elena Lowinger says that as a Jewish girl this project has a particular importance to her.

“I think it’s really important that their stories are told, even when they pass on,” says Lowing. “It’s just so important to us that everyone really knows the sacrifices and everything they went through so that people they didn’t even know would be free.”

Lowing and East Chapel Hill High sophomore Miles Charles met at Smith Middle School, where the idea for the project started with the help of their Social Studies teacher Tony Carter.

Charles says he also has a special connection with the liberation of France since his grandfather lived in Algeria at the time.

“It’s an honor to take these veterans to the 75th commemoration” says Charles. “We want the Chapel Hill community know and want them to feel that it is important to honor these veterans and that they did fight for what we have today.”

A fundraising event called D-Day and “The Greatest Generation” is being held on Saturday, February 2, at the NC Botanical Garden which will feature a silent auction.

Carter says while the event is meant to raise money to send veterans to the commemoration, they also hope to honor all veterans.

“Yes, our biggest thing is to take veterans to Normandy, but these kids and the teachers have a heart for honoring veterans of every war and time they’ve served for the United States,” says Carter.

The fundraiser is from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.

You can hear the full interview here.

‹

Speaking of Schools: CHCCS Chief Communications Officer Andy Jenks

Andy Jenks, the chief communications officer for Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools, joins 97.9 The Hill News Director Brighton McConnell on Monday, July 14.

'We Need Help': Orange County Flood Victims Beginning to Pick Up the Pieces

Orange County residents whose homes were flooded during Sunday's storm shared their emotions and what help they need in the aftermath.

Orange County Reports First Fatality From Storm; Shelter Opens for Flood Victims

As the area continues assessing storm damage and waiting for high waters to recede, Orange County opened a public shelter at Smith Middle School.

Railroad Work to Close Homestead Road in Chapel Hill, Allowing Sidewalk Work to Be Finished

Chapel Hill alerted residents that Homestead Road will be closed between Weaver Dairy Road Extension and Seawell School Road next week.

As Fire Cleanup Continues, Location Changes Still Active for Some Seawell Elementary Students

Seawell Elementary School students displaced after the school experienced a fire in a mechanical room will remain in their temporary classrooms for a few more weeks. The Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools district issued an update to families of Seawell Elementary on Friday afternoon to share the latest details of fire cleanup and instruction for affected […]

CHCCS Shares Plan for Students Affected by Seawell Elementary Fire

A fire in the Lawler/B-building at Seawell Elementary School means some students are being asked to stay home on Tuesday.

Chapel Hill Fire: 4 Injured in Single-Vehicle Crash that Closed Road

A fiery single-vehicle crash led to several trips to the hospital and a road closure late Friday night, according to the Chapel Hill Fire Department. Emergency services responded to calls of a crash shortly after 9:30 p.m. and sent out a social media alert after 10 p.m. about the closure of Seawell School Road near […]

CHCCS Passes Measures on Overcrowding at Smith Middle

As the 2019 school year approaches, Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools face the task of solving overcrowding in Smith Middle School. Thanks to a large cohort of 5th graders moving into middle school this year, the Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools Board of Education must come up with a plan to address the increase. Smith Middle is projected […]

Carrboro Police Respond to Victim with Gunshot Wound

Carrboro Police are investigating after officers responded to a report of a gunshot wound on Della Street just before 2 p.m. Wednesday. The report prompted a soft lockdown at Seawell Elementary School, Smith Middle School and Chapel Hill High School. Della Street is roughly one mile from the three schools on Seawell School Road. The […]

Chapel Hill Students Holding Fundraiser to Help Send Veterans to D-Day Anniversary

D-Day, the Allied forces’ invasion of Nazi occupied France during World War II. To commemorate the occasion, several Chapel Hill students and teachers are working to raise money to take two World War II veterans to Normandy in June. Chapel Hill High School sophomore Elena Lowinger says that as […]

›