HOPE – Motivated by a sense the stories of local military veterans were not being remembered, three students at the Hope Academy of Public Service have undertaken an effort to remind the community.
\r\nThe video compilation of interviews with local veterans produced by sixth graders Grace Easterling, Madelyne Maclaughlin and Madison Phillips was featured during the annual Hempstead County Salute to Veterans on Veterans Day, Monday.\r\n
\r\n“Grace came up with the idea last year, and this year, it just came on,” Phillips explained.\r\n
\r\nThe original idea stemmed from a video project on first responders which Easterling had already been involved with at HAPS.\r\n
\r\n“I wanted to do Veterans Day to make the 911 project bigger,” she said.\r\n
\r\nAll three girls developed source material for interviews with local military veterans, located willing participants, conducted the interviews and produced video from the interview sessions. The interviews span the three regular military service branches plus information from the U.S. Coast Guard. Phillips was responsible for most of the editing and the finished product is a DVD which not only became part of the program on Veterans Day, but also was copied and distributed to veterans attending the program at Hempstead Hall on the University of Arkansas-Hope campus.\r\n
\r\n“These girls have done a wonderful job,” program emcee Bob Willis said. “They have put a lot of work into this today; they were here early this morning doing the decorations.”\r\n
\r\nThe crowd of about 200 was appreciative with applause and personal thanks extended from veterans and their families who were in attendance Monday.\r\n
\r\nMaclaughlin wrote letters of introduction to solicit interview participation by veterans, and Easterling designed and produced the program which was used at the official event. \r\n
\r\nThe second phase of the project involved documenting the Veterans Day proceedings. \r\n
\r\nPhillips made a video record of key moments in the program, such as keynote speaker Eric Akin’s thank you to veterans for Friday night football.\r\n
\r\nAkin, representing the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, said, “Friday night football is when the whole town shuts down.\r\n
\r\n“But, no matter what mascot you are, a Bobcat, a Curley Wolf, or a Pickle, in that moment when the PA announcer says, ‘Ladies and Gentlemen, remove your hats and caps and please stand for the National Anthem;’ in that moment, we all become Americans. And, we have Friday night football because of what these veterans did for us; and, I want to say, ‘Thank you.’”\r\n
\r\nEasterling and Maclaughlin made digital photographs throughout the event, which brought together local veterans from World War II through the present.\r\n
\r\n“These girls are tops,” HAPS EAST teacher Jacqueline Brady said. “They did this on their own.”\r\n
\r\nCopies of the DVD presentation created for the program are available to anyone who requests one by calling 870-722-2700, ext. 411.\r\n
\r\n“A lot of veterans, being in the armed forces had a lot of different impacts on their lives,” Phillips said.\r\n
\r\nOne Navy veteran told how he decided to become a minister after leaving military service based upon a Bible discussion with another sailor aboard ship.\r\n
\r\nOthers recalled the lifelong friends they found in military service.\r\n
\r\n“One had a friend die,” Easterling said. “It changed his life and showed him how much he loved that person, but he only learned that after he lost him.”\r\n
\r\nEach of the girls has found a greater appreciation for those who wear the uniform of a branch of the U.S. military.\r\n
\r\n“It’s a chance to honor the veterans who didn’t always have the opportunity to be honored,” Phillips said.\r\n
\r\nA Veterans Day parade through downtown Hope at 4 p.m. Thursday was rescheduled from Monday because of rain.\r\n
