Martin Luther King High School Riverside Unified School District

Riverside, California

King High School Remembers

A Veterans Oral History Project

Recognition• Military Order of World Wars• Military Officers Associations• Vietnam Veterans of America• Riverside National Cemetery

• Consortium of Oral

History Educators

• Golden Bell – 2004• Riverside County Board of

Supervisors• Inland Empire Magazine• California Council for Social

Sciences

• Veterans of Foreign Wars

How did it all begin?

• Classroom assignment – Difficulties in finding

family or friends who had served

– Recruited veterans to make the project accessible to all students

Almost by accident!!!

2001 King High School Remembers

Participant GrowthParticipant Growth

The Goals of King High School Remembers:

1. Put a face on history for our students.

2. Save veterans’ stories for posterity

3. Say “Thank You!” to those who served.

King High School RemembersSupports the U.S. History California State Content Standards

CS-11.6 Analyze the different explanations for the Great Depression and how the New Deal fundamentally changed the role of the federal government.

CS-11.7 Analyze America’s participation in World War II

CS-11.8 Analyze the economic boom and social transformation of post-World War II America

CS-11.9 Analyze U.S. foreign policy since World War II

Process Begins in October:

• Reserve Facilities

• Send– Individual Letters of Invitation to Veterans

– RSVP Cards– Sponsorship Requests– Letters to Veterans’ Groups

– Letters of Invitation to VIPs

• Contact Support Groups

You’re Invited…

January:

• Introduce program to students– History of the program– Interview process – Expectations– Background research

March:The Big Day Arrives!

Students Write Biographies Based on Interviews

• Background research• Interview questions prepared• Interview• Individual outline• Individual rough draft• Group final draft

– to veteran for verification

• Final product

Students Write Biographies Based on Interviews

This is more than a “Department” Event, it's a School Event . . . . • ROTC• Band• Choir

• PTSA• Video Production

• Yearbook• Newspaper Staff• Administration

• Senior Committee

A Riverside Unified School District Event . . . .

• Board Members• Superintendent• Employees

• Employees’ Parents• Special Projects

And a Community Event!

• Veteran Participation• Family Participation• Student Support

• Sponsor Support

Riverside Educational Enrichment Foundation

•Sponsor Support

•Sponsor Support

Riverside East Rotary Club

What do kids get out of the project?

Students get to hear history from the people that lived it. Hearing it from someone who was there is both powerful and priceless.

Students come to understand the sacrifices necessary to stand up for democracy and freedom.

Students gain a sense of community-a sense of family. They gain a perspective on who we are as Americans.

They learn a sense of compassion. When a student reaches across the table to hold the hand of a crying vet, they have also reached across a generation.

Our students have learned that “some of the best people we will ever meet are veterans.”

“I was speechless. It was unbelievable!! I walked out with a whole new perspective” - Jessica Barnett-Class of 2006.

“It was something I will never forget and something that will be an irreplaceable memory for me.”- Katie Erwin-Class of 2004

What do veterans get out of the project?

For some - it is almost therapeutic. They may not talk about their experiences much or maybe this is the first time and there is someone there to listen.

The project becomes a way for them to make more of a contribution to their families and their communities.

They are able to leave a legacy. Who they are-what they did- their advice is being saved for posterity

The vets are shown that they are appreciated.

The vets find out that teenagers aren’t quite as bad as they are made out to be. They find out there is great hope for the future of America.

“”We found your students to be delightful and refreshing. There is great hope for the future” — Clare Ehm

“ I realize that students benefit from the program, but so do the vets”-James Scribner - U.S. Navy

“I never thought I would have to answer to the future.” - Wil Lopez-U.S. Marines

Glenn Dobson

Andy Miller

Johnny Gonzales

James Corona

King High School Remembers is an ongoing project - ever changing, ever evolving.

But one thing remains constant…

WE REMEMBER!!!