Although Tyler Cook is diagnosed with Down syndrome, he set an example for fellow students by raising money for Flags for Fallen Vets.
The Spring FFA member collected $33.50 in a canister he made from a Quaker Oats container with help from his agricultural teacher Courtney Musterman. Cook interacted with the student body and staff at Spring High School to collect the funds.
“He took the canister all over school. While Tyler does not talk, the canister and his smile did the talking for him,” said Cook’s mom, Dana Pennington.
Pennington took the monetary donation to KSEV 700 AM, who was accepting the donations for Flags for Fallen Vets. Pennington said the story of her son’s donation collection quickly spread through the radio station, and the general manager asked Cook to attend a ceremony to present the canister to the president of Flags for Fallen Vets.
The donation purchased 67 flags, which Cook assisted ceremony officials with placing on the graves at the Houston National Cemetery during a service on Sunday, May 26.
“Tyler’s experience in FFA has been rewarding, inspirational, beautiful and therapeutic,” Pennington said. “He shows us every day what dedication truly means. FFA is a blessing.”