MILLBURY, Ohio — A local high school is paying tribute to those who have served our county. Their names will be forever remembered as a small token of gratitude.
It was a day to honor and thank so many who served our county.
"The privileges and the freedoms that we have today, we wouldn't have if it weren't for people that have went out there fought and lost their lives, people that have served during peacetime," said Patricia Harger-Herrick, an Air Force veteran.
This Memorial Day weekend Lake High School debuted their brand-new Veteran's Wall. It took more than a year of planning and fundraising, but the entire community came to see the new display that honors all the flyers who have fought for our freedom.
"It was pretty emotional,” said Noah Hastings, a Lake senior. “It was pretty cool. "
"I was just blown away," said James Christiansen, a Navy veteran who served in Korea.
The wall sits just outside the main walkway next to the cafeteria. It was made possible thanks to donations totaling close to $8,000. It features the names of more than 500 lake students who went on to serve their country from the 1920's to the present.
The design was chosen specifically to add and expand the wall as time goes on. For some seeing their name along the wall reading “In honor of the flyers who served” was emotional.
"It's a great feeling,” said Patricia Harger-Herrick. “It really is. It just, it makes you proud. "
"It was very moving,” said James Christiansen. “I was proud to be up there."
Vietnam Veterans were also moved because they felt they finally got the recognition they never received after returning home from war years ago.
"It's still emotional to say the least,” said Patrick Boyd, a Vietnam veteran who served in the Army. “When we came back there wasn't, nobody was there to say hi. It (the wall) was pretty awesome."
While the new Veterans wall means so much to those who have already served, it also means a lot to some Lake High School seniors who have committed to the military.
"It's very exciting that a lot of these people have served our country and I am going to be one of them,” said Aaron McKee, a Lake senior and Army recruit.
"It's kind of surreal honestly,” said Noah Hastings, an Air Force recruit. “It's just hard to explain. Like it's such an honor. It's the only way you can feel that kind of honor honestly.”
At a ceremony before the unveiling they paid tribute to those who've paid the ultimate sacrifice. Their names will forever live on because of the new wall. As the Genoa American Legion played “America the Beautiful” hundreds sat in reflection of all that we've been given because of their service.
"Boy, I don't know how to put it into words,” said Patrick Boyd. “It's a big deal to honor everybody that we lost."
The wall serves as a reminder of just how great the cost of freedom and that's something no Lake Flyer will ever forget through these halls again.
