HOPE, Arkansas - Three students at the Hope Academy of Public Service have undertaken an effort to preserve and share memories of area military veterans.
The video compilation of interviews with veterans was produced by sixth-graders Grace Easterling, Madelyne Maclaughlin and Madison Phillips, and was featured Nov. 11 at the annual Hempstead County Salute to Veterans.
"Grace came up with the idea last year, and this year, it just came on," Madison said.
The idea was inspired by a HAPS video project on first responders, with which Easterling had already been involved.
"I wanted to do Veterans Day to make the 9/11 project bigger," she said.
All three girls developed source material for interviews with local military veterans. They 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. Madison was responsible for most of the editing and making the finished product into a DVD. The disk not only became part of the program on Veterans Day, but was also copied and distributed to veterans attending the program at Hempstead Hall on the University of Arkansas-Hope campus.
"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."
The crowd of about 200 was appreciative with applause and personal thanks extended from the veterans and their families.
Madelyne wrote letters of introduction to solicit interview participation by veterans, and Grace designed and produced the program used at the official event.
The second phase of the project involved documenting the Veterans Day proceedings.
Madison made a video of key moments in the program, such as keynote speaker Eric Akin's thank you to veterans.
Akin, representing the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, said, "Friday night football is when the whole town shuts down. But, no matter what mascot you are - a Bobcat, a Curley Wolf or a Pickle - 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."
Grace and Madelyne took digital photographs throughout the event, which brought together veterans from World War II through the present.
"These girls are tops," HAPS EAST teacher Jacqueline Brady said. "They did this on their own."
Copies of the DVD presentation created for the program are available to anyone who requests one by calling 870-722-2700, ext. 411.
One Navy veteran told how he decided to become a minister after leaving military service because of a Bible discussion with another sailor aboard ship.
Others recalled the lifelong friends they found in military.
"One had a friend die," Grace said. "It changed his life and showed him how much he loved that person, but he only learned that after he lost him."
Each of the girls said they have found a greater appreciation for those who wear the uniform of a branch of the U.S. military.
"It's a chance to honor the veterans who didn't always have the opportunity to be honored," Madison said.
The Veterans Day program will be followed Thursday by a community Veterans Day parade through downtown Hope at 4 p.m., rescheduled from Monday because of rain.