North Carolina 11-Year-Old Raises Over $100,000 For Pearl Harbor Education

Never underestimate the value of a school project.

At least not one that Harrison Johnson is assigned. When the 11-year old was in third grade a couple of years ago, Johnson's teacher instructed the class to do a project on a national landmark.

Johnson chose the Pearl Harbor Memorial because, he told NBC's Today Show, he "didn't know much about it."

To familiarize himself with the "day that will live in infamy," Johnson began devouring content - books, newspapers articles, anything about the subject.

He even took a trip to Hawaii with his family to visit the memorial in person.

"He was like a kid in a candy store," Cheznee Johnson said about her son at Pearl Harbor. He talked to park rangers, watched the movies, and participated in the VR experience the memorial offers.

"He was just so happy," she said about her son.

Johnson said when he was at Pearl Harbor he could imagine "it all happening" around him. But the greatest feeling he had was "thankfulness."

"There were 2403 people who paid the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom," Johnson told NBC's Today Show.

When he returned home to North Carolina, Johnson told his parents he wanted to raise money for educational programs for the memorial.

His goal was to raise $100,000.

His parents suggested he start smaller, perhaps lowering the fundraising goal to $1000, but Johnson wouldn't be deterred.

"I told them about 'The Art of the Possible,'" Johnson said, "About how you can do anything you set your mind to."

Johnson went door-to-door, held events at restaurants and a golf club to raise money for his endeavor and proved to be a very effective fundraiser.

Eventually his parents helped him partner with Pacific Historic Parks, an organization whose mission is to lead educational programs for historic sites like Pearl Harbor. They set up a webpage for Johnson called Harrison's Heroes so people could donate online.

In just two years, Johnson surpassed his goal of $100,000 and donations continue to come in.

Pacific Historic Parks plans to use the money to develop - with Johnson's help - a virtual reality program about the Pearl Harbor Memorial specifically designed for children.