By Andrew Watson
Air Force cadets involved with a new service club on campus expressed their support and appreciation to war veterans Friday afternoon Feb. 7 by writing them letters.
The cadets, along with other students in the Silver Wings service club, spent three hours in the Wells Building writing letters to lift the veterans” spirits.
Silver Wings is an organization that educates people about aerospace activities of the Air Force and organizes meaningful service projects as well.
Silver Wings” unofficial president, Rachael Maher, an industrial design major from Lehi, said the club is open to anyone interested in the Air Force.
“Silver Wings is not an ROTC club,” she said. “We are here to educate the public about the Air Force and give people interested in the Air Force a chance to serve. Silver Wings is for the students.”
John Root, an Air Force cadet captain from Boise, Idaho, was more than happy to write a letter to the veterans.
“I feel a sense of gratitude for what they have done,” Root said. “They have paid the price of freedom.”
The Silver Wings club came up with the idea of writing letters to war veterans after talking to members of the Arnold Air Society, another service organization for Air Force cadets. Both organizations collaborated to write the letters.
Maher said the club members plan to deliver the letters to the VA hospital in Salt Lake City on Valentines Day.
“I want to support those who have come before me,” said Shaun Loomis, Arnold Air Society vice commander. “They might be lonely, and it would be nice to help them out and make them feel better.”
Those involved in Friday”s activity wrote the letters to cheer up veterans” Valentines Day and express their respect and appreciation of the veterans” service to our country.
Through service activities, Silver Wings club members hope to attract not only those interested in the Air Force, but also want to show people that military life can be full of meaningful activities that are helpful to the community.
Maher is the daughter of Colonel Roger Maher, professor of aerospace studies, so she was naturally drawn to the Silver Wings club.
“People think that if you are in the military, you do push-ups at home and catch bullets in your teeth – such is not the case,” Maher said.
After the Silver Wings club officials organize leadership positions, members of the club are planning to hold more service projects to show the public that the Air Force can serve our country at home, as well as abroad.
Silver Wings can be found online at BYU”s Student Connection Web site.
