Written by
Beth Farrar, SMT Writer
T.S. Hill Middle School, Dexter, MO - The Wreaths Across America event at the Missouri State Veterans Cemetery in Bloomfield took place over the weekend on December 15th. This event has been hosted by the Patriot Riders for the past five years and there have been many participants each and every year. The laying of the wreaths represents the veterans that have fought for America over the decades. The Wreaths Across America was founded nearly twenty years ago and has laid over 670,000 wreaths in honor of all branches of the military and Prisoners of War (MIA).
The Missouri State Veterans Cemetery had a goal to raise enough money to purchase 1,800 wreaths for this special occasion. Many citizens, veterans, and military families helped raised money and purchased wreaths for the cemetery in honor of the fallen soldiers and their accomplishments throughout the years.
Among the many people who participated in the laying of the wreaths, there was one heartwarming group in particular that helped make this annual event a great success: the sixth grade Social Studies class at T.S. Hill Middle School in Dexter. The sixth grade Social Studies teacher, Mindy Thurmon, loved the idea of participating in such a widespread and meaningful event. The previous Social Studies teacher initially came up with the idea two years ago. But once Thurmon saw how many students enjoyed it and learned from it, she knew that this was something that she wanted to continue at T.S. Hill.
Two weeks prior to Veterans Day, Thurmon began to start fundraisers for each of her Social Studies classes so they could raise money for this awesome project. She initiated a small competition between each of the sixth grade classes so that it was more fun and it encouraged students to raise more money. Each day, Thurmon would count the money and let each class know where they stood. That really put the fire underneath of them and started an even bigger competition when they knew who was ahead and who was barely behind.
The sixth graders had a goal of $1000 but after a week of good fun and fundraising, they came to a total of about $1585.
“We were overjoyed with the outcome,” says Thurmon, “I had two classes that raised the most that were within pennies of each other.”
The class was thrilled with their amazing success and the school rewarded them by allowing them to watch a movie in class in honor of this project. The top two classes that were only a couple cents away from each other both received a popcorn and soda party during school. Each sixth grade student also received a red hat to remind them of their excellent accomplishment this year.
Many of the students enjoyed the fundraiser so much that they attended the Wreaths Across America Ceremony on Saturday, December 15th. The students that attended had the opportunity of laying some of the wreaths. It’s such a memorable event for those students who had the chance to participate because it allowed them to understand what all their hard work had accomplished. Thurmon thought it was very appropriate to offer bonus points to each and every student that attended the ceremony.
This fundraiser was a history lesson, a competition, and a good deed all wrapped into one and it was a humongous success. We would like to congratulate and thank the sixth grade Social Studies class and their teacher, Mrs. Thurmon, for willingly taking part in this great project. We hope to see T.S. Hill Middle School participate in this event for many years to come so more students will be able to experience what this year’s students got to be a part of.
ShowMe Times would like to encourage all our readers to get involved with our public schools. The upcoming activities are posted weekly in hopes of encouraging more people to get involved in the academic and athletic growth of our school system.
The ShowMe Times would like to encourage all of our readers to support our local school system. The education and growth of the young people in our community is important to everyone's future.
We would like everyone to join us as we encourage these young people in their pursuits. So lets get involved by supporting the events at our schools.
Written by
Beth Farrar, SMT Writer
Richland, Missouri - Christmas time is always a busy time for Beta Club members because there are so many donations and local charities to help out with. Many of the members have already contributed by ringing bells at the Dexter Wal-Mart for the Salvation Army. But as we all know, the Beta Club bases its foundation on the motto “Lead By Serving Others”, and although the Richland Betas have been running around busily this Christmas season like Santa’s elves as they try to wrap up the last of their State Convention fundraisers, they have still found the time and the place in their hearts to stop for a couple minutes and think about the people that are in need around them.
With the Holiday season already among us, there have been many needs in the community that have already been seen by the members. To help out the community and local students, the club is holding two different food drives at Richland High School. With Christmas Break quickly approaching, the club hopes to collect large amounts of canned foods or frozen foods for local families in need.
The first food drive is a frozen food drive that will shortly end next Thursday morning on December 20th. A family that has recently moved to the district and area just lost their loved one unexpectedly, so the Beta Club would like to help the hurting family by collecting any types of frozen foods such as: frozen pizza, TV dinners, lasagna, ravioli, or any convenience meal or food item that can be found in the frozen food isle at the grocery store. All Richland students or people of the community are encouraged to help out for this noble cause.
The Richland School District also started a new program at the beginning of the year called the Backpack Program. It was created by the high school Beta Club to service those in need in our community by packing backpacks full of food each and every Friday so that the students and families in need will be able to have nutritious meals all throughout the weekend.
The next food drive that Beta is holding is a school-wide Holiday food drive for the Backpack Program that so there will be large amounts of food that the club will be able to send home with the students so that they can have warm meals all throughout Christmas Break. Any non-perishable food item will be gladly accepted.
The Trinity Methodist Church in Essex is also helping the Backpack Program by choosing a family in need in the local community and giving them a wonderful Christmas. The chosen family will receive gifts, food, and even a Christmas tree. The Beta Club and Richland Schools would like to thank the Trinity Methodist Church for their willingness, time, and effort to make a memorable Christmas for a local family.
To keep the Backpack Program afloat and successful, a lot of effort must be put into the program by many people throughout the community and school district. The Dinner Theater, put on earlier this year by the band and music director, Amber Duley, donated all of the proceeds to the Backpack Program so that it could flourish and continue to feed the local students. There have been small fundraisers and donations that also keep the program running smoothly.
The Beta Club would like to thank all donations that are received for both of the food drives and know that the families and students that are receiving the food are very grateful as well. All frozen foods, canned foods, or other food items can be brought to Richland High School or to the Beta Club Sponsor, Stephanie Monroe.
Dee Loflin, SMT Writer
The students were mesmerized by the war memorabilia behind glass cases throughout the building. "Where did all this stuff come from?" one student asked. Mrs. Sue Mayo who is the archivist and librarian at the museum answered, "It all came from donations from many good people, including veterans, war heroes and people who worked for the Stars & Stripes newspaper."
Each student listened intently as Mrs. Mayo explained how a young Union Soldier with Col. Richard Oglesby's 8th Illinois Infantry regiment took possession of an abandoned printing office in 1861. "Those Union soldiers were marching with Ulysses S. Grant!" she proclaimed.
"The little newspaper rolled off the presses right here in Bloomfield, Missouri," Mrs. Mayo stated, "and it was dubbed Stars and Stripes." And as history goes only a few copies were printed. The soldiers were told told to read it and pass it on to a buddy and they did just that.
The Stars and Stripes is still being printed today, but no longer in Bloomfield, Missouri. The museum is a testament to the historical value of how a little newspaper printed in the middle of the night started a tradition still in existence today. Many soldiers all over the world still receive and enjoy reading this newspaper.
If you have not had a chance to check out a local historical site you should do so, it is free to the public. There is also an extensive library available to those who would like to research the military.
For more information contact the Stars and Stripes Museum at 573-568-2055. The museum is open Monday - Saturday and is a great place to bring your family, students or Sunday school class.
