Colt Elementary student’s Flat Stanley project takes off with help of Air Force
Colt Elementary School student Aaron Rivera (center) shows off a shadow box of his Flat Stanley’s journey that included a flight in a U.S. Air Force U-2 aircraft. Colt Elementary librarian Lenore Weihs (left) created the box after her son took the Flat Stanley on a cross-country journey. Rivera’s teacher, Bea Jakubek, joins the youth and librarian during a ceremony honoring the youth. Staff photo by Daniel Clifton
DANIEL CLIFTON • PICAYUNE EDITOR
MARBLE FALLS — When Colt Elementary School librarian Lenore Weihs’ son paid her a surprise visit in April, she had no idea it would lead to a third-grader’s literacy project taking to the clouds.
Earlier this year, the Colt Elementary third-graders created Flat Stanleys. For those who don’t know, the Flat Stanley Project helps connect students with other children using a Flat Stanley, a cut-out of a person.
Weihs said the third-graders displayed their Flat Stanleys with the rest of the student body and staff selecting their favorite one. They chose Aaron Rivera’s creation.
When Weihs son, U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. W.D. Weils, showed up in April, he visited the campus, met with students and became a Flat Stanley traveling buddy.
The staff sergeant volunteered to take Rivera’s Flat Stanley back to Beale Air Force Base in California.
W.D. Weihs serves as crew chief for the Air Force’s U-2 spy plane. The aircraft is a high-altitude reconnaissance plane that can fly at altitudes of 70,000 feet or more.
While with the staff sergeant, this particular Flat Stanley flew in a U-2 and a T-38 trainer aircraft as well as took a motorcycle ride.
“He’s a busy Flat Stanley,” Lenore Weihs said.
W.D. Weihs mailed Rivera’s Flat Stanley back to his librarian mother along with several other items, including two U-2 medallions and a U.S. flag from the base. Lenore Weihs gathered the items along with a photo of Rivera and her son and placed them in a shadowbox for display.
On May 29, the Colt Elementary school third-graders gathered in the gymnasium, where Lenore Weihs shared Ribera’s Flat Stanley’s adventures with them.
“We’ve, hopefully, created some wonderful memories for (Rivera),” the librarian said.
daniel@thepicayune.com