Learning from the Past

Most high school juniors have senioritis by Christmas break. All I was concerned about was getting out of high school as fast as possible. Unfortunately, that doesn't happen at Columbus Signature Academy- New Tech High School.
The day we learned about the World War II documentary, most of felt overwhelmed. We were given a month to make a full-fledged documentary about local WWII veterans and showcase it at the local movie theatre. We had no money, no film crew, and no idea what we were getting into. We had no idea the impact we would have on not only the community, but our perspectives.
Before we knew it, we were ready to interview the veterans. Buses from the nursing homes came to the school. The majority were old men, but there were a few couples holding hands and walking down the hall. It was awkward small talk in the beginning. Everyone had the same feeling about talking to the elderly- we were going to be bored. By the time the interviewer starting asking questions, we were all wrong.
The stories we heard shocked us. These elderly men and women told of the heartache of saying goodbye to loved ones. They went into detail about what they saw and heard during battle. Most told stories about watching their friends die in their arms. We were fortunate to have a POW with us, and his story had everyone in tears.
By the end of the interviews, everyone in our class had a completely different outlook on the project. If we didn't create the best documentary possible, then these stories would be lost. We owed these men and women all of attention and hard work.
When the final moments were edited and put onto the DVDs, the excitement for the first showing was electric. We invited everyone in the community, including the veterans, to the theatre. The night of the first showing was sold out. There were no sounds during the show, and the veterans received a standing ovation. The pride in their eyes was indescribable. 
After the show, people stood in the lobby and thanked all of the veterans for their service. They also thanked us for showcasing their heroism. Many gave hugs and thanked us for giving their grandparents a chance to finally speak about what they went through. The weekend showings were all sold out, and everyone in the community was moved by the stories they heard.
The mayor came to our school and thanked us for our contribution. She was proud of our motivation and dedication. During the project, many of us questioned why these stories had never been heard. Why weren't these veterans highlighted in our community? Shouldn't there be a way for other high school students to learn about their nation's past? The mayor knew about our frustration, and gave us her word on creating a way for students to talk to local veterans and become involved in discussions.
Throughout that year we always had a soft spot for that project. Most of the us volunteered at nursing homes and visited the veterans. The next year, students at a different local high school created a documentary about veterans of the Korean War. It seemed that the community had become more aware of the lessons that could be learned.
Now that I'm out of Columbus, I wonder if the community has the same passion for the men and women in the nursing homes. Looking at how my perspective changed, I know that many students would benefit from hearing their stories.

Here's a story the local newspaper wrote, including some photos of the class