photograph by Lon Horwedel
from their city. Others had Marines in their families and wanted to research Marines. The boards give artistic and visual learners opportunities to take learning to a higher level, while the book learners still have the opportunity to perform research.” The annual USO Dance, the culmination of the year-long oral
history project, is held in the school’s cafeteria, free and open to the public. Students invite the interviewed vets back as guests of honor for the event, which features dancing to music of the era as performed by the school band and choir or a guest DJ. Culinary arts students provide hors d’oeuvres and refreshments, and the Army Junior Reserve Offi cer Training Corps present colors. The students’ remembrance boards line the school’s hallways leading to the cafeteria. About 600 people attended the school’s fi rst USO Dance,
honoring World War II vets. More than 700 came the following year to honor Korean War vets. This year’s dance for Vietnam War vets drew about 900. “We try to involve as many students as possible,” Anderson says.
“Part of the purpose is to connect the generations. The students begin to understand the sacrifi ces previous generations made during wartime.
“One of my female students came to a dance for extra credit
and wound up dancing all night with a Korean War vet,” she recalls. “They both had a great time. The vet said he hadn’t had so much fun since his wife passed away. Another World War II vet sent a touching letter saying our USO dances gave him hope for the future. The students appreciate this and learn that their generations aren’t so diff erent from one another.” Anderson says the National History Teacher of the Year award
fl oored her, but comments received from parents are more personally rewarding. “Parents are sometimes surprised when their children get
excited about history,” she says. “Some tell me their son or daughter keeps asking questions about Uncle Harry and what he did in Vietnam. Many students and their parents learn information about the veteran in their family for the fi rst time. It’s very important for the veterans, their families and our country’s history to preserve these stories before they’re lost. “There’s a stigma that studying history is boring, but it doesn’t
have to be. You just have to fi nd diff erent ways of teaching it and inspiring students to learn.” 3
Eastern | SUMMER 2015 29
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