Andrews – Local high school students banded together last week to memorialize the 13 U.S. service members killed in an attack outside the airport in Kabul, Afghanistan.
“The whole purpose of civics is to teach them how to be a good citizen, but this is something I can’t teach,” said Nicole Hedden, a history teacher at Andrews High School. “This was a direct reflection of the community they were brought up in.”
Students in Hedden’s civic literacy class jumped at the opportunity to honor the fallen heroes while discussing current events. Student Mikayla Whitehead proposed a memorial after learning about restaurant owners around the country who honored the service members with reserved tables.
“We hope that maybe one of their family members will see this,” Hedden said, adding that a picture of the memorial spread on social media. “And if not, at least the community knows that our students, even at such a young age, are not only aware of what's going on but are fully involved.”
The students framed pictures of each service member killed in the Aug. 26 attack and displayed them inside a glass case that includes a flameless candle next to each photograph. A U.S. flag drapes the wall directly behind the display case, making the memorial hard to miss.
Biographies of the service members grace the wall on one side of the case, while a poster board on the opposite side allows members of the community to leave written messages, which was an idea proposed by student Michael Samten.
“Your sacrifice will not be forgotten,” Samten wrote on the exhibit. “I pray for your families and hope you rest in a better place.”
Due to COVID-19 protocols, the Cherokee Scout was unable to speak with the students in person; however, Hedden shared written statements regarding why they created the memorial.
“When I would mention to people what was happening there, some didn’t even know that we had troops in Afghanistan, much less know that people were dying,” Whitehead said. “I thought that if a student saw the memorial it would put into perspective for them that freedom isn’t really free, and that they might appreciate all of the soldiers who don’t even know us fighting for us.”
Samten shared similar sentiments.
“They deserve to be remembered,” Samten said. “These men and women left their families and their civilian lives to serve their country and I respect that. … I hope that from this project, people can start to really honor our nation and see what our soldiers fight for every day.”
Students and faculty are encouraged to visit Building B to see the memorial and write a message to either the fallen service members and their families, or active military members and veterans in general.
“I did this because it strikes me with so much grief that there isn't a bigger fuss about this,” Elijah Mayfield said. “We lost 13 U.S troops and a lot of people don't know. ... In loving memory to all the soldiers that have lost their lives, and all the soldiers that have risked it.”
The following students participated in creating the memorial: Makayla Whitehead, Michael Samten, Kinleigh Queen, Madison Cogdill, Mandy Pendergrass, Macie Postell, Marlee Postell, Americas LeQuire, Elijah Mayfield, Kaylin Ellis, Bronson Ludixen, Brianna Downs and O'Ryan Brockwell.