ADM Middle School Students Honor WWII Veterans Through National “Silent Heroes” Project
Posted Date: 04/09/26 (12:27 PM)
ADM Middle School GATE students have completed an incredible project honoring two World War II veterans through the national “Silent Heroes: Untold Stories of the U.S. Marine Corps in World War II” program.
Sponsored by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and National History Day, this initiative challenges students to dig deep into history and bring overlooked stories to life. Under the guidance of Mr. Jon Markus, students spent months researching the lives and service of two U.S. Marine Corps veterans laid to rest at the Iowa Veterans Cemetery: Major Merton Peter “Mert” Hansen and Private First Class James William “Jim” McLeran.
Their work resulted in two detailed biographical profiles that will now be permanently featured on the National History Day Silent Heroes website and the Veterans Legacy Memorial:
https://nhdsilentheroes.org/profiles/merton-peter-mert-hansen/
https://nhdsilentheroes.org/profiles/james-william-mcleran/
This honor comes at a meaningful time, as the nation celebrates the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Marine Corps. ADM Middle School is proud to be one of only 50 schools nationwide selected to participate.
A huge congratulations to the students who made this possible:
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.
Take a few minutes to explore their work and help us recognize these Silent Heroes.
Sponsored by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and National History Day, this initiative challenges students to dig deep into history and bring overlooked stories to life. Under the guidance of Mr. Jon Markus, students spent months researching the lives and service of two U.S. Marine Corps veterans laid to rest at the Iowa Veterans Cemetery: Major Merton Peter “Mert” Hansen and Private First Class James William “Jim” McLeran.
Their work resulted in two detailed biographical profiles that will now be permanently featured on the National History Day Silent Heroes website and the Veterans Legacy Memorial:
https://nhdsilentheroes.org/profiles/merton-peter-mert-hansen/
https://nhdsilentheroes.org/profiles/james-william-mcleran/
This honor comes at a meaningful time, as the nation celebrates the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Marine Corps. ADM Middle School is proud to be one of only 50 schools nationwide selected to participate.
A huge congratulations to the students who made this possible:
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.
Take a few minutes to explore their work and help us recognize these Silent Heroes.