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HAMILTON — "It feels really good to give ... everyone should try it," Caroline Herzog told her Monroe Elementary classmates on Friday.

Caroline's essay about Honor Flight, a program that flies World War II veterans to Washington, D.C. to visit the WWII memorial, garnered the organization $300 through the school's Big Give program.

"I think it's important to remember our veterans and for them to have a chance to know how important their service is to our country," she said.

The third grader also earned $240 through fund raisers. She presented the money to Honor Flight organizers Friday, May 9, at the school's Big Give assembly.

The project was a take-off of Oprah's Big Give TV series and part of the school's ongoing "big" push for character education. Students were asked to write essays about what they would do if they were given money to make a difference in someone's life.

Money awarded to the winners was donated by the school's PTO and included Madelyn Majors, first grade, $100, Trenton Animal Shelter; Natalie Francis, second grade, $200, Open Door Pantry; Kelsey White, fourth grade, $400, New Life Mission; Claire Barrington, fifth grade, $500, Parachute; Alec Hickman, Jared Calihan, Morgan Jones, $600, Cancer Society/Relay for Life.

"Most of us have seen cancer and it has affected our life in some way," Alec said. "Cancer does not care if you are young or old, it does not care if you are a mom or dad or grandma or grandpa. It is a terrible disease that we need to fight for a cure together."

Creative parents and schools look for opportunities to teach children about character, Monroe Principal Kathy Wagonfield said.

"An important character trait is compassion," she said. "When compassion is practiced there is an added benefit. We all get a boost of self esteem or that sense of belonging when we contribute to our community."

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