Apr 28, 2017 3 min read

JEFFERSON – Jefferson-Morgan School District is decorating a wall in the high school, but this one isn’t honoring athletes.

The district’s new “Wall of Honor” holds pictures of alumni in their service uniforms and flags that symbolize branches of the military to recognize graduates who have served.

Some of the veterans recognized date back to World War I, while others are last year’s high school graduates.

“I just thought that they needed much bigger recognition,” said Joseph Orr, high school principal. “I can’t think of not honoring those who have served.”

The project began in the fall with a $500 donation from the American Legion in Jefferson. Tom Shumaker, a member of the Legion who helped with the project, is one of the honorees on the wall, having graduated from Jefferson-Morgan in 1959 and serving in the U.S. Army.

“I couldn’t be more proud,” he said. “These are people who actually gave a part of their lives to serve. It gives you a sense of pride to know that there were so many from a small district like Jefferson-Morgan who served their country. I’m really excited about it.”

Shannon Corbett, who graduated in 1991 and went right into the Army, serving until 1994, is another honoree. He then returned to the district as a math teacher and has been teaching for 18 years.

“It’s an honor to have done that and to be back,” he said. “I think it’s great for these kids to see their former classmates, family members and even me up there. It gives them something to be proud of.”

Corbett said he recognized some of his former students on the wall and parents of some of his students.

The wall now has 18 people, but Orr said he has 20 others who have expressed interest in the wall or having a loved one be honored.

“At least three or four times a week we’re getting responses from the community about this,” he said. “Even people who live in different states now are emailing their photos.”

One of the pictures is Tristian Wright, who graduated last year and is now in the Marines.

“He is a young man who was back in town last week and brought in his picture,” Orr said.

Orr said students and teachers helped to decorate the wall with a central wooden flag that was designed and painted with wooden lettering around it.

He said he hopes the wall will resonate with students and “foster a thought and respect for those who do serve.”

Orr said if any alumni are interested in having their service picture or a loved one’s picture on the wall of honor, they can contact the school at 724-883-2310.

“Every day I’m putting some up,” he said. “We hope to fill up the whole darn wall.”