After Shock Veterans Home Visit

Norfolk Junior High students and Nucor Detailing Center Teammates brought some old, recognizable gifts with a new and technological twist to the Norfolk Veterans Home on Monday afternoon.

The 3D Printing and Drafting Club that is a part of the AfterShock after school program, this semister the club designed and printed personalized flag bases to hold a 3D printed American flags and then delivered them to veterans. The club is instructed by Nucor Detailing Center employees and led by Trainer David DeCarolis who says he didn’t expect the students to respond enthusiastically to the idea of doing something charitable.

“When I brought this to the kids I really anticipated that they were going to have a lot of resistance to it,” DeCarolis said. “But I was so impressed with those kids from the public school system that they had already a deep understanding of the importance of veterans and they really did want to do something to give back.”

The students went door to door at the Veterans home, talking to the residents about their creations and their lives. They also had the 3D printer set up for a demonstration near the cafeteria. DeCarolis thinks showing the students how to apply their new skills to something good makes the ideas click.

“It is just so neat to get to watch these kids as they are learning the software and learning about 3D printing and drafting as a career but then also to take it out of the classroom and into the real world,” DeCarolis said.

Overall, the project and the visit was good for everyone involved.

“It’s good for both sides to come together,” DeCarolis said. “One to be appreciated and one to show appreciation.”