Hagerstown students put skills to work, make connections with veterans
The public will have an opportunity to see photographic portraits several North Hagerstown High School students are creating of local veterans during a Veterans Day event Friday in Hagerstown.
Juniors and seniors in the school's Interactive Media Production class are putting skills they learned in earlier years to work in creating a tribute to several veterans, teacher Marsha Secrest said. It also gives the students opportunities to put their communication skills to the test as they help interview the veterans about their military lives.
Faces of Honor, the student's project, fits in with the American Legion auxiliary's Americanism program, which encourages connections between schools and veterans so youths learn why veterans served and honor the service to their country, said Marilyn Hembrock, president of the Morris Frock American Legion Auxiliary. Hembrock also is Maryland chairperson for the Americanism program.
Where to see photos of local veterans
The portraits will be on display during the annual Veterans Day ceremony Friday. Hembrock said the ceremony, which had been planned for in front of the county courthouse, has been moved inside to the Legion post, 405 Northern Ave. Things start at 10:30 a.m. and the ceremony starts at 11 a.m.
The portraits will remain on display at the reception following the ceremony and through the afternoon, she said.
Youths and veterans making connections
Among the veterans the class interviewed and photographed are Lt. Col. James Domenico and Tech. Sgt. Ashton Staubs, both with the West Virginia Air National Guard south of Martinsburg. Domenico also used to help coach volleyball at Hagerstown Community College.
They took turns sitting in front of a black background with light stands nearby and senior Timothy Ramsey photographing them while Secrest and her other students asked the service members questions. They talked about why they joined the military, their duties, where they traveled, spending stretches of time away from their families and, for Domenico, what it is like to be deployed.
Timothy, 17, of Hagerstown, said he loves taking photos and hopes to become a professional photographer.
Junior Austin Bell, 16, said the project with veterans is "pretty unique."
Austin said he hadn't interviewed anyone until Faces of Honor, a project that also provides perspective as students have gotten to know service members.
Domenico, 49, of Smithsburg, said he loves any chance he gets to tell stories and engage with youths. A small percentage of the country is eligible for military service, he said.
In October, The Associated Press reported an estimated 23% of young people can meet fitness, educational and moral requirements to serve in the American military. The reasons for disqualification include medical issues, criminal records and tattoos.
Domenico, who grew up in Martinsburg, said the variety of career technical programs available to today's youth is amazing.
Staubs, 34, of Harpers Ferry, W.Va., also enjoyed working with the students. Martinsburg High School didn't have that kind of program when she was a student there, Staubs said.
Secrest said the goal of the International Baccalaureate career pathway class is for students to graduate with the skills to work for a place like a photo studio or to start their own business. Learned skills include graphic design and communication.
This article originally appeared on The Herald-Mail: Hagerstown students to show Faces of Honor portraits on Veterans Day
