Hear Henry's interview with Scott Sloum on WJOL radio station.
River View Elementary School fifth-grader Henry Franzen is honoring Veterans Day by raising more than $2,000 for the Disabled American Veterans Field of Flags.
Franzen’s campaign raised $2,060 for the nonprofit in a few months, surpassing his goal of $1,000.
The DAV organization helps disabled and ill veterans get services such as medical care or housing.
The nonprofit sends 20 flags to the organizer for each $500 raised.
Franzen’s campaign earned 192 flags, which will be placed outside River View in time for Veterans Day.
“I thought this was a pretty cool thing to honor veterans,” Franzen said. “A lot of our veterans are from Vietnam now, and they did not get respected when they came home, so I want to respect them now.”
River View Principal Kelly Gregoire and Franzen met in late September to discuss the fundraiser.
Franzen created a flyer and a QR code so people could donate easily through a dedicated DAV website.
Gregoire and Franzen used the school’s virtual announcements to show the fundraising totals and encourage families to donate.
Frazen did all the work himself, Gregoire said.
“It’s so inspiring that Henry came up with the idea and engineered it himself,” she said.
“I’m really, really proud of the initiative, dedication, and passion Henry showed in this project.”
Franzen said the hardest part of the project was typing in names for thank you notes and for a sign – donated by Rolff Sign Company - that will stand along with the flags at the school.
“It’s a little hard but it feels good once you finish all the hard stuff, it feels good to do it,” he said. “Every time you get another donation, I feel happy because another veteran gets helped.”
Franzen also spoke about his fundraiser at an October veterans’ expo hosted by the local Will4Vets nonprofit organization.
Franzen loves military history, especially World War II and the Vietnam War. His great-grandfathers and a few cousins served in the military.
Franzen wants to keep supporting the DAV Field of Flags event when he moves to Timber Ridge Middle School next year.