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Kokomo students unveil special gift for veteran

KOKOMO, Ind. (WISH) — A group of students in Kokomo honored a local veteran Friday with a gift they worked on for weeks.

U.S. Army veteran Charlie Morgan decided earlier this year he wanted to buy a new camper. He told a Taylor High School history teacher about his plans.

A group of Taylor students said they’d raise some money and buy it for him.

They showed Morgan his new camper after their annual Veteran’s Day ceremony, but it wasn’t quite the camper Morgan remembered.

Students and teachers spent weeks raising money and refurbishing the camper. They decorated it with red, white and blue and military tributes.

“I got told that if I looked at it prior to, they would change it and paint it hot pink or something,” Morgan said.

Morgan said he plans to show the camper off at an annual veteran’s camping trip in Kokomo.

“I’m very proud of these students and young adults,” Morgan said. “I thank them from the bottom of my heart.”

Morgan helps Kokomo staff and students organize their Veteran’s Day ceremony. Students hear stories of soldiers who risk their lives.

It’s Morgan’s way of paying respect, but this year the students are paying respect to him.

“It was an honor to be able to work on this and be able to present this to Charlie,” Taylor High senior Jack Engelder said.

“I really do appreciate all the veterans that do anything for our country,” senior Caitlyn Husband said.

Morgan said one day, he’ll pass the camper along to someone else. He doesn’t know who gets it yet, but he knows a thing or two about them.

“This camper stays with a veteran,” Morgan said. “It doesn’t go any place else. It doesn’t get sold.”

Students said they got plenty of help on the project from the local VFW and a history teacher, Don Bennett.