"It's not about us. It's about doing for others," Principle Josh Schild of Eagle Grove's Robert Bleu Middle School (RBMS) told his students at the Aaron Eillerts Day assembly. "If you guys want to make a difference in the world, do things for others."
For fifteen years now, since the tragic and heroic passing of young Aaron Eillerts, only 14 when he gave his life to save the lives of his fellow scouts when a tornado hit their camp, Aaron's way of living has been inspiring the kids who walk the same halls he used to, and study with many of the same teachers. Including Mr. Schild.
Aaron's life was marked by voluntary service to others, and a genuine desire to make the lives of those around him better. Aaron put that into action in remarkable fashion, volunteering time, and making crafts, like pillowcases for hospital patients – which would make a measurable difference, one rested head at a time.
Every year students at RBMS mark Aaron's birthday, February 24th, with service projects inspired by Aaron's own works. Indeed, many students around the state do, as the day is a statewide holiday, Aaron Eillerts Day, by the proclamation of former Governor Chet Culver.
This year the list of projects that the students took on included making birthday cards for new students, chemo care packages, paracord lanyards for first responders and active duty service members, Plarn (plastic yarn, made from shopping bags) for making sleeping mats for the homeless, and those in disaster situations, suncatchers, kindness rocks, friendship bracelets, dolls for missions, pet blankets, pillows for patriots, bead bracelets, Veterans Day cards, Joybots (robot figures made from dominos) and percussion mallets.
Some of the pillowcases made in the "pillows for patriots" project are earmarked to be sent to the Iowa National Guard’s 1133rd Transportation Company, based in North Iowa out of Mason City, but currently deployed in Poland, on the sidelines of the war in Ukraine.
One of the projects the kids took on, making percussion mallets, is a bit more technical than the rest. That's because the percussion mallets they're replacing are quite expensive for a reason, and replicating them requires the use of a 3D printer, and just the right filament.
"Mallets are expensive," said TAG instructor Luke Snyder, who has also been a band teacher, "they're ridiculous. But I have been making my own mallets for 25 years. I started making them in high school." Of course, with the newer 3D printing techniques, the method is more high tech, and high quality, than in Snyder's high school days.
The mallets are made using arrow shafts, which have the right combination of being lightweight and strong, with just enough flex to them. The mallet heads are made on the 3D printer, and while they feel hard at first, they have just a little give to them, which is essential. Then the mallet heads are wrapped in yarn.
"Mr. Snyder and I have been doing this for three years," said Wrestling Coach Jacob Groth. "It's relaxing."
"It's relaxing," agreed student David Olmstead, with a grin, "but after a while you get sore."
"I think the band kids get less attention, and this helps the kids who can't afford mallets," Groth added.
Mallets can cost anywhere from $300, "to as much as you want to spend," said Snyder. But Snyder's mallets are much cheaper, and really just as good, Which is why they make them for many area schools, not just Eagle Grove.
Of course, it's all inspired by Aaron. An amazing kid whose life may have been cut short, but whose legacy grows larger year after year, with every class of kids to learn from his example.
