On Nov. 11, banners honoring service members were hung along Warsaw’s Market Street. “Warsaw Salutes You” is the Kosciusko Youth Leadership Academy capstone project of Warsaw High School senior Elizabeth Stone, above right, and was inspired by her brother, Navy Lt. Nate Stone, left, whose own KYLA project was the 5K “Race for Trace” in 2011. This photo was taken at the USS California SSN 781’s homecoming in 2018. Nate served a seven-month deployment on the submarine. Photo provided.

By David Hazledine
InkFreeNews

WARSAW — One of the school programs cancelled due to COVID-19 this year was Kosciusko Youth Leadership Academy, which suspended its activities until the 2021-2022 school year.

However, one KYLA student, Elizabeth Stone, was determined to see her project through, and on Veterans Day, Nov. 11, 20 banners honoring men and women serving in the armed forces were hung on Market Street in downtown Warsaw. One of those will be Stone’s brother, Nate Stone, a Navy lieutenant who was deployed on the Virginia class submarine USS California and is the primary inspiration for Warsaw Salutes You Military Banner Recognition Program.

Since its first graduating class in 1995, KYLA students have churned out an impressive list of more than 200 projects, many of which may be familiar to readers: Boomerang Backpacks, Kate’s Kart and Warsaw High School Clothes Closet are just a few.

Stone’s participation in KYLA has its roots in her brother Nate’s own 2011 project, Race For Trace, a 5K run dedicated to his mentor Tracey Yaeger, a Navy helicopter pilot who inspired his decision to enlist. “I was only a third-grader, and I witnessed the hard work he put into his project,” Elizabeth recalled.

Nate’s hard work paid off. Race for Trace raised $25,000 for the Kosciusko County Cancer Care Fund and over $150,000 for various causes during the next five years. He commented on the benefits of his experience:

“KYLA taught me all about the incredible inner workings of local industries in Kosciusko County. From Maple Leaf Farms to the orthopedic businesses in the Warsaw area we have a diverse and successful local economy. It was a foundation for Race for Trace, which taught me how to leverage community resources and support to build a successful charity event. KYLA was a very meaningful experience for me as a high school junior and helped shape who I am today.”

Elizabeth is close to her brother and was much affected by his deployment. “It was hard. We couldn’t talk to him very much … it was a sacrifice for him and for our family.”

Another inspiration came from a trip to Wabash, where Elizabeth saw the town’s Hometown Heroes banner display. “It caught on in a lot of communities … it is an opportunity to honor a lot of people.”

To get Warsaw Salutes You off the ground, Stone met with her adult advisor, Miechi Petro, whose daughter Audrey also serves in the Navy. Stone also met with Mayor Joe Thallemer, who she said was “super excited” about Stone’s “more personal, up-to-date way to honor veterans individually.” Thallemer also suggested the Market Street location where new light posts had been installed as part of the Stellar Community project.

Stone received an “overwhelming amount of interest” from the community following her call for submissions. So much so she is planning a second cycle next spring when more brackets can be installed. “It was first come, first serve,” she said, and though the initial deadline for applications was Oct. 28, Stone is still accepting applications for Memorial Day 2021.

Like her brother, Elizabeth’s project taught her much about the community. “As the project developed, many contributors shared their family’s military stories, including Tara Haack, who helped with social media artwork, as well as Chandra Hoover and Kelly of Graycraft, who shared their banner designing expertise. These people have been so helpful … I definitely couldn’t have done it myself.”

For questions or application requests, email [email protected]