From Research to Remembrance: ADM Middle School Students Pay Tribute to WWII Silent Heroes

Students in the Gifted and Talented Education (GATE) program at ADM Middle School went on a very meaningful field trip to the Iowa Veterans Cemetery on Friday, February 27. This trip was the final part of their work in the "Silent Heroes: Untold Stories of the U.S. Marine Corps in World War II" program.

The Veterans Legacy Program at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, working with National History Day (NHD), sponsored this program. This national program helps students do in-depth historical research to honor local heroes. Mr. Jon Markus guided the students. The student-teacher team spent the fall and winter learning about the lives, service, and community contributions of two U.S. Marine Corps WWII Veterans buried at the Iowa Veterans Cemetery. These veterans were Major Merton Peter Mert Hansen and Private First Class James William Jim McLeran.

The project moved from the classroom to the cemetery. There, students gave and recorded original eulogies at the veterans' graves to honor their legacy.

The twelve students who researched and honored these veteran heroes are: Cade Adams, Rya Behrens, Hannah Pelton, Pepper Rains, Rory Tiernan, Charley Steinfeldt, Lucas Bauer, Alexander Johnson, Nyah Hachmeister, Jace Brown, Rory Trygstad, and Claire Russenburger.

During the visit, two students were chosen to read the eulogies that the group wrote:
Jace Brown read the eulogy for Private First Class James McLeran. Claire Russenburger read the eulogy for Major Merton Hansen.

The students' detailed life stories of both Silent Heroes will be shown forever on the NHD Silent Heroes website and the Veterans Legacy Memorial.

To celebrate the U.S. Marine Corps' 250th anniversary, ADM Middle School is one of only 50 schools in the country chosen for this chance.