Mackson Holloway

When I ask Ottawa second grader Mackson Holloway whether he can imagine himself in the Air Force one day, he instantly responds. He doesn’t respond with words. If I looked downward, I might have assumed he was lost in thought, seriously contemplating the question. But even without words, his response couldn’t be more obvious. I see him grin widely and can almost envision his mind racing, envisioning future adventures.

His head soon starts to nod up and down enthusiastically, catching up with his mind as if to confirm my interpretation. As I write this, I struggle to find words to describe his look of excitement adequately. Childhood awe seems as close as I can get. Quickly, my mind pivots to a second, equally important realization. I’m witnessing the power and importance of a positive role model.

Mackson is a middle child with an older and younger brother. His favorite subjects are math and reading. He shares that his favorite books to read are the Dogman series of graphic novels. He loves sports, especially baseball. He plays for the Ottawa Wolfpack travel squad. He typically plays shortstop, and looks forward to next season’s transition to kid-pitch. He shares that he’s “more excited than nervous about the change,” grinning confidently.

Mackson and the rest of Jefferson Elementary’s student council recently participated in a pen-pal program. Each student was given the name and address of a military veteran and asked to write a letter expressing gratitude for their service. While every student expressed thanks and appreciation with the hope of making their assigned veteran feel valued, seen, and respected, Mackson’s letter became the start of a cross-generational friendship with his veteran, Mr. Jay Less.

“I was going to student council, and we had to write a letter to a veteran, so I picked Mr. Less,” shares Mackson. He continues, adding, “He really liked it, so he wanted to meet up with me. It was part of a class project. All the students wrote letters to veterans but didn’t become good friends like we did.”

Mackson and Jay first met last year on Veteran’s Day. Mackson asked Jay about airplanes, and Jay told stories of his life, in and out of the military. Mackson shares that Jay brought him a gift, a baseball cap with the Air Force logo identical to the hat Jay typically wears. Eventually, Jay called Mackson’s mother to ask if he could drop off some old, die-cast planes he’d found while cleaning. Once proudly displayed in Jay’s house, Mackson enjoys playing with them while learning about different Air Force planes and their purpose.

Mackson shares that “my Great Papa, who is no longer with us,” was in the service, but Jay is the only veteran he knows. He describes Jay as “nice, funny, and kind” and says he enjoys their time together. While he’s just learning about the military, he possesses a foundational knowledge of its importance that I consider impressive for a child of any age. When asked about his greatest wish for the world, he pauses briefly before providing a simple, one-word response about what he prioritizes most—freedom.