The Veterans Project recently celebrated the 250th anniversary of our country, and the veterans that made it possible.
The event centered around a video presentation of interview clips done by students and their respective veterans. Eighteen students and eight veterans conducted interviews that were recorded and will be sent to the Library of Congress to be put on record. The videos showcase the veterans’ stories as they bravely served our country.
Speakers at the event included the two sponsors of the club, Dr. Rebecca Hodnett and Assistant Principal Mrs. Scharlotte Cassell; as well as Ms. Chatham Volunteer, Elizabeth Durham; and Mr. Patrick Henry Jolly.
“The highlight of my night was seeing the veterans’ facial expressions change as they watched their own stories and the stories of others,” Dr. Rebecca Hodnett, Veterans Project sponsor, said. “I watched one of the veterans tear up, and it melted my heart.”
“I hope this has been a rewarding experience for the students and their veterans,” Hodnett said. “This has been a very meaningful experience for me, and I have learned a lot myself. I can teach from a book all day, but I think students gain more from this.”
The club’s purpose is to connect high school students with veterans in order to develop respect for our service men and women and promote community participation.
“We plan on growing it even bigger next year,” Hodnett said. “We plan on getting the sports involved and having veterans come out to the games. We are also hoping for more student involvement.”
Refreshments were served to those attending in the cafeteria. The program began with the National Anthem sung by Brooklyn Rigney and Lyla Shifflet, while Chatham’s JROTC presented the flags.
