LIVING HISTORY
Have you ever read an article somewhere that was so unusual that it
stuck in the back of your mind and keeps coming to the surface every now
and then? That is what I want to share with you today. There was a
story of a young boy who asked his grandfather to come to his elementary
class and tell his schoolmates about his service in the Army. All I
could think about was how mesmerized those students must have been
hearing those stories firsthand instead of from a history book. How
exciting and how real....bringing history to life!!!!! That article
remained buried in my memory for a few years before it popped up again
in 2009.
You know by now that I have a great love and appreciation for our
veterans of all generations. I love to share with my readers how their
lives have impacted mine or how their service has changed their own
lives. It occurred to me that perhaps the local high schools might
benefit from hearing those stories firsthand just as the class of that
little boy many years ago. It was time to do some research.
I sat down and made a list of all the local high schools.....then called
each school's resource department inquiring as to whether they would be
interested in veterans coming to speak to their history classes. I
learned that the speakers would need to coincide with the curriculum as
it progressed through the school year and that would be in the spring,
closer to Easter and not too far from the end of the school year. Of
course any speakers would be from WWII or later. Several schools were
very enthusiastic about my idea so I started reaching out to veterans.
Thank goodness for the internet and the many Marine Corps and military
forums that I frequent. Working in retail in a mall also allowed me to
meet veterans too. I put ads in a couple of magazines and posted my
request in as many places as possible. Within a couple of weeks I had
a terrific list of several veterans, from WWII, Korea, Vietnam, Desert
Storm and Iraq. I have to say I was pretty excited that this was
working out!!! The one drawback for me was that I could not be in
class for most of the visits because I was working.
However, there were two Vietnam veteran speakers whose classes I was
able to attend and I was, without a doubt, as mesmerized as the high
school kids. One very special speaker happened to be a friend as well,
Everett Alvarez, longest held POW in Vietnam, eight and one half years.
His story was spellbinding to say the least. You could have heard a
pin drop and there were four classes gathered together in the cafeteria
to hear him speak. The details of his incarceration in the Hanoi
Hilton was breathtaking. I was so incredibly grateful that Everett
took time from his busy schedule to speak to the students.
Another speaker of that era spoke of the history of Vietnam before,
during and after the war. It was a history lesson that was far more
interesting in person than from a textbook. Even the teacher was
completely absorbed by his delivery. The other classes at other
schools I was not able to hear, but the teachers contacted me and
thanked me for bringing the living history to their classrooms. They
sent thank you notes to the speakers and hoped to repeat the experiences
in the future.
Sadly the next year the weather reeked havoc on the curriculum....too
many snow days so there was no time for extra curricular special
lessons. It turned out to be a one semester endeavor and then I was so
involved with the care packages that I let it go. I do believe I need
to attempt to repeat the project.
Perhaps there are some of you reading this article who might consider
volunteering to speak at the schools of your children or grandchildren.
I know it would be a wonderful experience for everyone involved. So
many veterans have such meaningful stories to tell......some have never
been told before and some have been repeated many times........but to
the ears of the children....all ages........those stories may be what
triggers a deeper interest in our country's history!!! Think about it!!!
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