Katahdin Middle-High School students place flags on veterans’ graves in Patten, Sherman

6 years ago

STACYVILLE, Maine — Katahdin Middle-High School students took short trips to Patten and Sherman this past week to place flags on the graves of veterans from the region.

Katahdin Middle-High School students visited the Patten and Sherman cemeteries this past week, placing flags at many of the sites. (Contributed photo/Katahdin Middle-High School)

“With Memorial Day coming up, it seemed like a great time to get out, learn about the history of the region, and pay respect to those that served,” said Kala Rush, an English and outdoor education instructor for Katahdin. “Students requested to make a special stop at the grave of Spc. Dustin James Harris, who died April 6, 2006, while proudly serving his country in Bayji, Iraq, during ‘Operation Iraqi Freedom.’ Students were proud to know he was an alumnus of Katahdin Middle High School and consider him a hero.”

In addition, the students will extend their service learning project in the classroom over the next week. Small groups took pictures of certain headstones and will research that person, their family and their role in the community, Rush said.

The project is one of many facilitated by the Katahdin Learning Project, a group that helps incorporate the local community into education through place-based learning. The Katahdin Learning Project hopes to connect other teachers with educational, local, student-led projects in the days to come, Rush said.

To find out more about the Katahdin Learning Project or to get involved, find them on Facebook or email Rush at krush@rsu50.org.